The Toronto Maple Leafs once again suffered postseason heartbreak in May. They lost a seven-game series to the Florida Panthers, continuing a long history of playoff disappointment. With a brutal schedule on tap for next season, many fans are worried that the Original Six squad may be seeing its championship window closing.
While we acknowledge the Leafs' offseason losses, we believe this will be their time to finally bring the Cup back to Canada. Below, we’ll share three reasons why we think the boys in Toronto are in store for big things this season.
The Pressure to “Win Now” Has Eased
Leafs’ fans always expect the team to compete for a Stanley Cup, but the pressure has been far greater these last few seasons. The trio of Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Mitch Marner were among the best in the league, leading hockey fans to expect them to deliver at least one title. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t happen.
The team traded Mitch Marner to Vegas this summer to avoid losing him in free agency, meaning Toronto’s terrific trio is officially done. The team was able to add some depth to its roster to help take his place, but will struggle to replace the 102 points he scored last season.
Despite the team's considerable talent, fans and bettors seem to be dropping the Leafs from their list of contenders. For the first time in a long time, Canadian betting sites have listed the team’s odds to win the Cup well outside the top five. This sets expectations lower than they have been in a long time, and we see this team capitalizing.
In addition to expectations being eased, the team will also no longer have to worry about the contract status of Knies and Marner hanging over their heads. While many players like to claim they don’t pay attention to those kinds of stories, there is no denying their impact on the locker room.
We believe the Leafs will thrive in their role as a second-tier team. It will help them find another gear and give them an edge against young and hungry Atlantic teams from Ottawa and Montreal. It may take time to figure out how to play without Marner, but expect to see these guys firing on all cylinders heading into the postseason.
Anthony Stolarz Back in Goal
There is no question that Florida was the best team last season, but they caught a big break when facing Toronto in the second round. Red-hot goalie Anthony Stolarz suffered a concussion in the first game, being pulled after playing for just 30 minutes. He would not return to the ice for the remainder of the series, forcing Joseph Woll into the starting role.
While Woll is an excellent second goalie, he was not up to the challenge presented by an incredible Panthers team. That left many fans wondering how the series would have played out if Stolarz had remained healthy.
The veteran goalie had worked as a backup throughout his career, but he evolved late last season. He essentially forced Toronto to make him the de facto starter heading into the playoffs, and he delivered in a big way. He went 4-2 with a .901 save percentage and 2.19 GAA, and was the driving reason for the team avoiding a first-round upset at the hands of the Senators.
Having a proven playoff goalie is as good as gold in the NHL. Although Stolarz only played in a few games, we saw enough to believe it was more than just a fluke.
More Moves Likely Coming
Though Toronto’s front office has not confirmed any rumors, it's likely they are actively looking for more talent to replace Marner. That includes inquiring with the Flames over Nazem Kadri’s availability. The former Leaf would bring a veteran presence to the locker room, as well as add 60+ points for a team looking to build its depth.
While the pressure may be reduced for the Leafs’ players this season, the same can’t be said for GM Brad Treliving. While the team has confirmed they will keep the executive in place for a third season, it could be his final chance to hold onto the coveted role.
We are big fans of Treliving and believe he has a few more moves up his sleeve. As hard as it was to let Marner go, it will give him more financial flexibility than he has had in his short time as GM. While he doesn’t shy away from big signings, he has an excellent eye for undervalued talent, which is precisely what this team will need.
While they are unlikely to make another big splash this summer, don’t be surprised to see Treliving and Toronto be active at the trade deadline.
