Toronto Maple Leafs: Atlantic Division Power Rankings

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 7: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks with teammate Mitch Marner #16 before the start of the second period against the Nashville Predators at the Scotiabank Arena on January 7, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 7: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks with teammate Mitch Marner #16 before the start of the second period against the Nashville Predators at the Scotiabank Arena on January 7, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 24: Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Rinat Valiev (17) shoots the puck before the NHL preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 24, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 24: Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Rinat Valiev (17) shoots the puck before the NHL preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 24, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Montreal Canadiens

I think we’ll see the Canadians lose ground this year to the Sabres.  This is as high as I predict Montreal goes in these rankings.

The Canadiens have Carey Price who is still the best overall goalie in the NHL, and who probably should have won last year’s Vezina.

But that’s about all they got.

They have some really nice prospects, but they are lacking elite players currently.

Shea Weber is awesome, but we can’t just assume he’s going to defy aging forever.  Max Domi and Tomas Tatar stand to regress big-time and Jonathan Druin – while incredibly talented – doesn’t seem to be as good as looks like he could be.

Barring a big breakout from Jesperi Kotkaniemi, I don’t see a lot to love on this roster. I think they over achieved last year and will be closer to Detroit and Ottawa than Toronto and Tampa this year.

This ranking is a courtesy because they did just finish one point behind the Leafs last year.  I could see them finishing behind Detroit, maybe.