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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Who Will Win the Stanley Cup?

By Wilbert Timmermans

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews #34 looks on before playing the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews #34 looks on before playing the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 3: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates on to the ice during play introductions before the game against the Florida Panthers at Amalie Arena on October 3, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette /NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 3: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates on to the ice during play introductions before the game against the Florida Panthers at Amalie Arena on October 3, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette /NHLI via Getty Images) /

My Take

The Toronto Maple Leafs will do well this season, really. With luck along for the ride with them on their shoulders in the playoffs, they just might win it all. However, ultimately, I think the Tampa Bay Lightning will take home the Stanley Cup this season.

Despite their first-round sweep of last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning seem unshaken and poised to set it all right. You can expect them to easily settle themselves among the Atlantic top teams, which likely will be completed by the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs like the past 2 years.

The absolute key to their success will rely on the health of their star defenseman Viktor Hedman. Truly, with him healthy in the line-up, the Columbus Blue Jackets, with all due respect, would not have swept Tampa Bay last season. Heck, I doubt they would have taken the series.

Over the summer they have managed to keep the core of the group intact, even signing Brayden Point to a 3-year bridge deal worth $20.25 million, indicating the Lighting have the intention going all in the coming 3 years.

In the end, the Tampa Bay Lightning have élite players on every position with a lot of playoff experience under their belt. That will be, in my opinion, the determining factor in their Stanley Cup playoff success this year.

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