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Toronto Maple Leafs: 4 Things That Could Go Wrong

By Ryan Ferguson

SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 10: Two Toronto Maple Leafs fans wearing paper bags over their heads watch third period action against the Florida Panthers at the BB
SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 10: Two Toronto Maple Leafs fans wearing paper bags over their heads watch third period action against the Florida Panthers at the BB /
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#4. Toronto Maple Leafs: Competition In the East

The Toronto Maple Leafs finished last season in fourth place in the Atlantic division. They had the same number of Points as the Bruins, and were just behind Ottawa for second place. They have the potential to improve on that this season, but competition should be fierce.

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It’s reasonable to expect improvement from a number of teams in the East. Tampa finished only one point behind Toronto and their lineup was decimated by injuries. The Panthers were a mess last season and struggled with injuries, but could be back on form this year. Buffalo and Carolina are young teams that are ready to take the next step. Who knows if the Islanders or the Flyers will be any good, but you certainly can’t count them out at this point.

It looks as though there could be a shift in power in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens, Bruins, Penguins and Capitals seem to be trending downward. These teams haven’t improved their rosters from last season and in some cases, appear to have gotten worse. Don’t be fooled by this. These teams all have the potential to maintain their hold on playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.

Add Ottawa, Columbus and the New York Rangers to the mix and making the playoffs suddenly seems like a tall task for any team in the East.

LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 21: (L-R) Sidney Crosby, Carl Hagelin and owner Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins carry the Stanley Cup as they arrive at the 2017 NHL Awards at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 21: (L-R) Sidney Crosby, Carl Hagelin and owner Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins carry the Stanley Cup as they arrive at the 2017 NHL Awards at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Next: What To Expect For the Rest of the Off-Season

Conclusion

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite the pessimistic view presented here, they are a good team with a very bright future. But let’s make sure we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves. After all, we’re talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs.

*Stats from nhlinjuryviz.blogspot.com./2016/10/201617-team-injury-breakdowns.html, nhl.com, frozenpool.dobbersports.com

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