So 40 points out of Clarkson (on the 2nd line) is going to be enough to push the Leafs from 4th to 3rd and a guaranteed spot?
I dunno.. They improved in the faceoff circle, which is important, but their #1 Center is really a #2/3 on most teams, their #2 RW is being paid #1 money to put up #2/3 points, their D played way above expectations last year (not sure if they can repeat, but obviously the potential exists)... I love my Leafs, and I hope they do great, but the pessimist in me is already looking for weaknesses so I won't be disappointed if they do not reach the expectations most people seem to have of them.
I can easily see them taking most of their own division in a 7 game series at this point, but I can also see them getting trounced in 5-6 games by a couple of those same teams.