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Toronto Maple Leafs Are Stanley Cup Contenders

By Bruce Harte Ashley

Apr 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A gathering of Toronto Maple Leafs fans assemble at Maple Leaf Square plaza before the start of their team’s game against the Washington Capitals in game six of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A gathering of Toronto Maple Leafs fans assemble at Maple Leaf Square plaza before the start of their team’s game against the Washington Capitals in game six of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are closer than you think to Stanley Cup contention.

Watching the Stanley Cup finals, I am reminded that the young core of the Toronto Maple Leafs are closer to Cup contention that they get credit for. While the Pittsburgh Penguins (with speed, speed, speed and scoring,) dismantled the “best defense in the NHL” during the third period of Game two of the Stanley Cup finals, It’s clear that the Leafs aren’t far off from either team.

Building Something Special

First of all, Brendan Shanahan is building something special. In addition to Lou Lamoriello, Mark Hunter and Kyle “I’m Staying” Dubas along with the leagues best scouts and development staff, the team is showing signs of long-term stability and success.

No more locker room fiasco’s with reporters, Salute-gates or Jerseys tossed on the ice either. No longer will you find empty seats at the ACC. This young Maple Leafs team has won back the hearts and minds of their long-standing fans. As a result of this success, make room for the bandwagon jumpers.  Welcome back!
Witness the thousands of fans who filled Maple Leafs Square. Screaming, dancing and cheering while the young Leafs gave the Capitals everything they could handle. Six games, five decided in overtime. The playoffs are a  beautiful thing, and you know what?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are back!

The Penguins defensive depth is comparable to the Leafs stable of defenders. A core consisting of Justin Schultz (picked up for a 3rd round pick), Olli Matta, Trevor Daley (for Rob Scuderi) Brian Dumoulin, Ian Cole and Ron Hainsey (a deadline p/u for a ‘C’ prospect and round 2 pick in the 2017 draft) has not been great, yet they have been good enough.  Even with Letang, the Leafs defense is not any worse than that.

So what makes the Penguins excel? Experience, plus three lines of blazing fast, offensively dangerous game breakers.  Furthermore it is the depth and talent up front that separates the Pens from the pretenders.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back, Two Steps Forward, No Steps Back

The curse of  Maple Leafs ownership and management has been the “We need that player now, regardless the cost” mentality. The Pens did not draft or trade for these players in one season.

Timely moves by Ray Shero and Jim Rutherford built that blue line. This no-name defensive core, is strong enough to hold off the Predators [so far] while the forwards bury their opportunities.

It ain’t Crosby lighting the lamp, it is Jake Guentzel, a third rounder who has blossomed this season.

A foreshadowing of what Connor Brown or Zack Hyman may offer? Furthermore, let’s not forget the Penguins stud between the pipes.  The Leafs have Fredrick Andersen signed the next four seasons.

Reilly, Gardiner, Zaitsev and Carrick make a very good top four,  having room to improve due to another season under Babcock’s system and tutelage. It bodes well for the future. Marincin and Marchenko? Steady as she goes. Dermott, Neilsen and Valiev, Andreas Borgman and Calle Rosén form a terrific prospect pool of near ready talent. JD Greenway, Mattinen, Middleton and Lindgren also bring unique skill sets to the organization.

Add some surprises Shanahan and company probably have in store, and anticipation rules.

Who might be signed? 

Roman Polak, one half of the social media’s whipping boys is oft criticized. If he recovers his late season form, Yes!

Matt Hunwick, the other half of the Hunlack monster? A steady defender, good teacher and veteran locker room presence, Yes!

Yannick Webber if he looks at a contract outside Nashville? Yes!

Webber is the ideal type of player Hunter, Dubas and lamoriello must find.

Kevin Shattenkirk? Maybe. Shattenkirk wants to be The Guy, a number one defender on a Stanley Cup winning team. The Toronto Maple Leafs are a perfect fit *IF*, he accepts a contract for Reilly $.  Consequently, he is leaving millions on the table from a Rangers or Bruins offer but it seems like the Toronto Maple Leafs are closer to his Cup dreams than the others.

Stay the course, the Maple Leafs are back

The Maple Leafs are a team built to attack and score, with speed, speed and more speed. This is the underlying theme since Shanahan decided William Nylander’s upside was higher than Nick Ritchie’s.

The same premise applied in the 2015 and 2016 drafts. In addition, every player selected can skate! The overall depth acquired in the past two drafts creates internal competition for jobs hence each player pushes for a higher ceiling.

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