Toronto Maple Leafs: Stanley Cup Contenders

The Toronto Maple Leafs are said to be over-achieving.

Don’t buy it. It’s not true. The Toronto Maple Leafs, if anything, are  under-achieving.

The narrative is that it doesn’t matter whether or not the Leafs make the Playoffs – they’re rebuilding!  It doesn’t matter how they fare down the stretch, because they’ve already accomplished more than anyone thought.  

That’s garbage.

The Leafs have been terrible for a decade, so they don’t get a bye on this rebuild thing.  Plus, they’re already rebuilt.  How many teams have a “third” that has either Kadri, Marner or Matthews?  Two? Five?  Not a lot.  That is for sure.

How many teams can add players off their bench who are as good as Leivo or Kapenan?

Despite people being confused due to the timeline not following the narrative, the Leafs are good.

They’re an underdog against the Capitals or the Penguins, but basically a coin-flip against anyone else in the east.  Montreal? Columbus?  Take away the luck-based win streaks and you have teams no better than the Leafs.  Worse actually.  The Rangers? I’ll take the Bruins, Leafs and Lightning over them in a series at any money.  They’re super overrated.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Can Win This Year:

I’m not saying they will. But I will look  you in the eye and tell you with a straight face that they are closer to being a Cup Contender than the borderline playoff team everyone seems to think they are.

I think Toronto Maple Leafs fans are just too scared to believe this is really happening.

I also don’t know why people thought the Leafs would miss the Playoffs.  They were adding Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Zaitsev and Andersen to a core that was already really good (Gardiner, Kadri, Komarov, Van Riemsdyk and Bozak).

I (correctly) predicted they would be a playoff team.

And if they blow this, I’ll be angry.  I won’t say “ah, they’re good for where they’re at.” Because that would be a lie.  The Leafs should be much higher in the standings, and if they could hold a lead (which, let’s face it, that is almost all down to bad luck) they would be.

So Much Better Than People Think!

Andersen is a top ten goalie.  The special teams are the best in the league.

They have the NHL leader in 5v5 goals.

Potentially they have the Selke winner (Kadri) as well as three good choices for the Calder.

By my count they have five first-line players (Marner, Matthews, Nylander, JVR, Kadri)

They would be up with Montreal and the Rangers in the standings and already have their playoff stature assured, had they simply gone .500 after regulation – something that is pure luck and beyond their control.

I see no reason why this Leafs season shouldn’t be seen as a disappointment if they can’t win at least one round.  I fully expect them to enter next season as Contenders, and (hopefully) favorites.

I’m sick of being happy with just doing OK compared to the Hurricanes or Islanders.  The Blue Jays have given me a taste of glory and now I’m hooked.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are so much better than you think.