It’s been a long summer, but the day is finally here; The Leafs are set to get their season started this evening in Winnpeg, and it’s the beginning of perhaps the most hyped season I can remember in my adult life.

We’ve covered every storyline in the Big Smoke during the offseason through the draft, a somewhat busy (but safe) free agency, and the lead-up to tonight. But there’s still some business to tidy up, and mainly we need to look at, well, how is this season actually going to play out?

I tabled to the staff a pair of straight-forward requests:

Your prediction for the playoff pictures in each conference.
Where the Leafs’ season ends (miss the playoffs, first round exit, conference final, etc.)

Here are the answers from our writers:

Evan Presement

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Lightning	Oilers
2	Bruins	Ducks
3	Leafs	Flames
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Penguins	Predators
2	Capitals	Stars
3	Hurricanes	Hawks
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Blue Jackets	Wild
WC	Canadiens	Coyotes

Leafs season ends: 2nd round of the playoffs

Jon Steitzer

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Leafs	Ducks
2	Lightning	Oilers
3	Canadiens	Flames
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Capitals	Predators
2	Penguins	Blues
3	Blue Jackets	Hawks
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Rangers	Stars
WC	Hurricanes	Wild

Leafs season ends: 2nd round of the playoffs

Matt H’Views

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Lightning	Ducks
2	Leafs	Oilers
3	Canadiens	Flames
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Penguins	Predators
2	Capitals	Stars
3	Blue Jackets	Blackhawks
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Islanders	Wild
WC	Blue Jackets	Sharks

Leafs season ends: Conference Final

Scott Maxwell

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Lightning	Flames
2	Leafs	Ducks
3	Canadiens	Oilers
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Penguins	Predators
2	Capitals	Wild
3	Hurricanes	Blues
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Blue Jackets	Blackhawks
WC	Rangers	Canadiens

Leafs season ends: 2nd round of the playoffs

Bobby Capp

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Lightning	Ducks
2	Leafs	Flames
3	Canadiens	Oilers
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Penguins	Predators
2	Blue Jackets	Stars
3	Rangers	Blackhawks
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Capitals	Wild
WC	Bruins	Sharks

Leafs season ends: Conference Final

Hayley Hendren

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Lightning	Oilers
2	Leafs	Flames
3	Canadiens	Ducks
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Capitals	Stars
2	Penguins	Predators
3	Blue Jackets	Blackhawks
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Flyers	Wild
WC	Sabres	Jets

Leafs season ends: Conference Final

Ryan Hobart

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Lightning	Oilers
2	Leafs	Sharks
3	Bruins	Ducks
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Penguins	Predators
2	Capitals	Wild
3	Blue Jackets	Blues
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Flyers	Flames
WC	Hurricanes	Stars

Leafs season ends: 2nd round of the playoffs

Cam Lewis

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Lightning	Oilers
2	Canadiens	Ducks
3	Leafs	Flames
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Penguins	Stars
2	Capitals	Wild
3	Rangers	Predators
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Bruins	Hawks
WC	Blue Jackets	Sharks

Leafs season ends: Conference Final

Ryan Fancey

	ATLANTIC	PACIFIC
1	Leafs	Oilers
2	Lightning	Flames
3	Bruins	Ducks
	METRO	CENTRAL
1	Penguins	Predators
2	Capitals	Hawks
3	Flyers	Stars
	WILDCARD	WILDCARD
WC	Hurricanes	Wild
WC	Canadiens	Jets

Leafs season ends: Hmmm…

…????…

Huh…well…

Just to recap, that’s five writers with the Leafs at 2nd in the division, two writers with them third, and two having Toronto take the Atlantic outright. No one had them finishing any earlier than the second round, and someone is buying into this newly opened Cup window big time.

For real though, if the Leafs are among the top 4-6 teams in the NHL this season, a Finals appearance is within grasp and then who knows. I give them as good a chance as anyone, and they’re clearly going for it.