5 Reasons the Toronto Maple Leafs Win Stanley Cup before Oilers

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The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers are two teams that are going to be very closely linked for a long time.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers have both been bad for years. Both went through an extensive period of being terrible before rebuilding properly. They are both teams with potentially generational superstars. And of course, they are two of the NHL’s best up and coming teams.

Apr 4, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) skates against the Washington Capitals at the Air Canada Centre. Washington defeated Toronto 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

But who is going to win the Stanley Cup first?

The Toronto Maple Leafs of course, I mean, who else are we gonna say? This is, after-all, Editor in Leaf.

Here’s five reasons why the Leafs will be the first of these young teams to hoist the Cup.

#1: Better Centre Depth

The Leafs have depth better depth at all positions, but it’s centre ice that is most important, and that’s where the Leafs will eventually shine.

Connor McDavid is the best player on either team, but after that the Leafs have much better depth.

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While both teams will likely see some significant roster turnover before either wins the Cup, the Leafs have a potentially three-headed monster at centre ice that is going to give them the edge for years to come.

The Oilers have McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins, but their third line centre is Mark Letestu. Comparatively, the Leafs have Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri and, eventually, William Nylander.

That is 3 x #1 centres and that depth is going to propel the Leafs to the top of the league.

#2 Coaching

I’d bet money that by the time the Oilers win a Cup that Todd McLellan is no longer their coach.

Whether it’s loading up the first line, insisting that Draisaitl play wing, or a generally old-school mentality, I don’t think McLellan is a very good coach for today’s NHL.

Apr 17, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs fans cheer for their team before game three against Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

By contrast, Mike Babcock is pretty much unanimously considered the best coach in the NHL. He’s a master tactician and motivator. He does have some old-school tenancies that hurt him (i.e reliance on checkers and stay-at-home defensemen) but he’s also shown a willingness to evolve that is the hallmark of all successful people.

#3 General Managers

No Contest here.

The Leafs have Kyle Dubas and Lou “Diamond Phillips” Lamoriello. The Oilers are saddled with Peter Chiarelli – one of the worst GMs in hockey.

Even if the Oilers get close, you get the feeling PC will blow it for them with another terrible trade. All you have to do is mention the words Taylor Hall and you can watch any Oiler fan’s heart break all over again.

Nov 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center William Nylander (29) and center Auston Matthews (34) and center Zach Hyman (11) salute the troops during a presentation during a their game against the Nashville Predators at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs defeated the Predators 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s not very nice, so I don’t recommend doing that. But hey, if you want to leave your ten year rebuild in the hands of a guy who thinks trading a player which four years of data suggested was a top-ten 5v5 forward in the NHL for a second pairing defensemen, then be my guest.

On the other hand, the Toronto Maple Leafs GM is already in the Hall of Fame. And, Dubas, the GM in waiting, authored the Phil Kessel trade, which Keeps paying the Leafs off in new ways on an almost daily basis.

#4 Salary Cap

The Toronto Maple Leafs have amazing players like Nazem Kadri and Jake Gardiner locked up for years on extremely team-friendly deals.

They have a core of players – JVR, Bozak, Komarov, Kadri, Rielly, Gardiner – who are in their prime and on good-value contracts. And they have two years after this one where the majority of their best players are on entry-level contracts. This means they have a team that can already go toe-to-toe with the Washington Capitals and nearly 20 million in cap space to improve their team over the next two seasons.

If there is a team that has every manipulated the salary cap to such an extensively genius level, I am unaware of them.

Apr 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Kasperi Kapanen (28) scores a goal on Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) in the second period in game two of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

The Oilers, on the other hand, have made a series of bad signings and have only one more year to win while Connor McDavid is on his entry-level deal. After that, the Caps is going to get a little dicey, giving the Leafs another advantage.

#5 McDavid Is From Ontario

I’m just kidding!! I wanted to fake you out, but realistically McDavid is never coming home. He’s an RFA after next season and unless he personally has designs on playing for his home-town team, it’s never happening.

The Oilers will sing him to a contract that makes him the highest paid player in the NHL and keeps him in Alberta for seven years. Both the Oilers and Leafs should win a couple of Cups before McDavid makes it to being an unrestricted free agent.

Apr 21, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) prepares to make a save on Toronto Maple Leafs center Mitch Marner (16) in the third period in game five of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-1 in overtime and lead the series 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

But, I’m only half joking here – because making McDavid the highest paid player – probably in NHL history – is going to hurt the Oilers ability to fill out the rest of their roster. Giving the Leafs yet another advantage.

When it’s all said and done, this is just for fun. The Leafs and Oilers fans both deserve to finally get lucky and it is amazing that they each have one of the (eventual) top-two players in the world.

I think both of these teams will be the class of the NHL for years to come. But, the Toronto Maple Leafs are clearly going to win first. Maybe even this year!

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