I would like to welcome you to the first installment of the “Power Tankings”. My plan is to provide a weekly update of the inverse power rankings of the bottom five teams of the league.
For the most part, these teams have nothing left to play for besides their pride, which also means their fans are feeling it too, so I figured why not spin this in a positive way, and look at the green grass on the other side – so to speak.
Bad but not quite bad enough: Columbus (49 points puts them at 5th-worst record right now, but 3 games in-hand on Toronto), New Jersey (6-3-1 in their past 10 and always a threat to win a low-scoring game), Ottawa (3 games in-hand and already at 51 points)
What this means for Toronto
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This may finally be the beginning of the rebuild that a lot of fans have known was required for a long time. Per a report on TheScore.com, Shannahan has been given full authority to tear this team down to the studs and build from the bottom up. In my opinion, this needs to happen as soon as possible.
After Buffalo and Edmonton, the 3-7 spots in these “Power Tankings” are wide open for the taking, and any win now before changes are made could make a significant difference in draft position.
I’m not asking the Leafs to stop playing, but it’s time to get some young players up and see what they have to offer. Toronto may be in the middle of one of its worst seasons in recent years, but it just may turn out to be the most important.
Next: Maple Leafs Entering Full Rebuild?