Are the Toronto Maple Leafs True Stanley Cup Contenders?

How likely is it for the Toronto Maple Leafs to actually win the Stanley Cup?

If we don’t look at odds and we just go by stats, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a pretty good chance of winning it.

Even though Toronto is in the conversation, they’re not one of the favourites like the Tampa Bay Lightning or maybe, the Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks. And right now, it’s one specific reason that puts them out of the conversation, and that’s size. But really, the Leafs are no smaller than those other 3 teams.

The average height of the Leafs is 6’1″, which is about the same average height of the Flames and Sharks and an inch taller than the Lightning.

What about points?

If you don’t like talking about size, let’s talk about points. Yes, the Lightning sits atop of the league in points with 108 points, which is 15 points ahead of the Boston Bruins, who are 2nd in the league. Even when you look at player statistics, the Lightning are shockingly better, but they’re top heavy with only 3 players reaching the 60-point mark.

Kucherov alone produces 15% of the Lightnings points and all 3 players combined to produce 38% of the team’s points. If one, or more of these players go down with an injury, they could be in deep trouble.

However, if you compare them to the Leafs, they have 4 players with 60 or more points.

Mitch Marner only produces 12% of the Leafs points and all together, all 4 players make up 43% of the team’s points. And, if you add Victor Hedman’s point total to the 3 players already on Tampa, all 4 would make up 44% of the Lightnings points. But, if you want to look at teams with 4 players that have 60+ points this season, they are the Toronto Maple Leafs (4), Boston Bruins (4), Washington Capitals (4), San Jose Sharks (4), Pittsburgh Penguins (4), and Calgary Flames (5).

Even though all of these teams are in the playoffs, the Lightning only have three 60+ players, which makes them lack depth in primary scoring. If they want to win the cup, they have to make sure they have primary point production from other players like other teams.

And if they don’t, their chances are hurt.

With the Maple Leafs 3rd in the NHL in regards to Total Player Points, that brings up a stronger argument to why they might be cup contenders and maybe, not as far away from Tampa as people think.

With the Leafs beating them in size and catching up to them in goals, they’re really not that far away. And, it could be an interesting matchup, if both teams reach the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Thanks for reading!