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Toronto Maple Leafs Listed Among Favorites to Win Eastern Conference

By Todd Cordell

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 23: Tempers flare at the end of the second period during Game 7 of the 2019 First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 23, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 23: Tempers flare at the end of the second period during Game 7 of the 2019 First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 23, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Despite navigating their way through a very tight cap situation, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been as active as anyone this off-season.

Be it via trade, or free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs have added six new faces who figure to be on the NHL roster come October.

Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot, and the controversial Cody Ceci were acquired in sizeable trades, while depth forwards Kenny Agostino (two years) Jason Spezza (one year), and Nick Shore (one year) quickly signed short-term deals on July 1.

Even with all the moves made by GM Kyle Dubas, the perception of the Maple Leafs’ standing in the Atlantic Division doesn’t seem to have changed much. At least not in the eye of one sportsbook.

Toronto Maple Leafs Second Best Odds

BetOnline recently released odds to finish atop the Eastern Conference. They gave the Tampa Bay Lightning the best implied odds at 25%, with the Toronto Maple Leafs equaling Boston Bruins for 2nd best at just over 14% (no Metro Division team is above 10%).

The Maple Leafs finished 3rd in the Atlantic a year ago. These odds imply they could close the gap and duke it out with the Bruins for 2nd, but that there’s a very real chance they finish in the same spot – and several pegs behind the Lightning regardless.

While I do agree the latter is still the top dog, I think the Maple Leafs are destined to surpass the Bruins and the odds should reflect that.

Even playing without William Nylander for a good chunk of the season, and a shell of himself for the rest of it, the Maple Leafs were the far superior offensive team. I’d expect that to be the case once again.

Defensively, I think there’s plenty of reason to believe the gap will tighten. The Maple Leafs played a lot of the year without Jake Muzzin, who might be the 2nd best defenseman on the roster. Having him for a full season will make a difference.

And even if Cody Ceci is over-played in the top-4, as opposed to Travis Dermott on his off-side, I still think that group is vastly improved. Give me Morgan Rielly, a full season of Muzzin, Barrie, and Ceci over the Rielly, Muzzin, Nikita Zaitsev, and Ron Hainsey group that finished the year (and was almost enough to take out the Bruins).

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Factor in several of the core Bruins (Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, etc.) are in their early-to-mid 30s and soon bound to decline, while most of the Leafs core is in its prime or yet to enter it, and there’s even more reason to believe the Toronto Maple Leafs could surpass the Bruins in the standings sooner than later.

 

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