the game is mostly about a private TV$$$$ deal bringing in billions, and those teams are annually among the playoff contenders
Toronto's ownership doesn't pay market for the TV rights, although possibly the richest ownership in North America, so the team is dead from the get-go with a half-effort.
the main trouble with today's game is the imbalance in the scheduling, letting teams have an equal right to a WC spot while playing a clearly lower strength of schedule
but it's not as though i'm gnashing my teeth over a team losing out on a WC spot