Editor In Leaf
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 05: Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) celebrates as referee Ian Walsh (29) signals a goal during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings, held on October 5, 2019, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 05: Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) celebrates as referee Ian Walsh (29) signals a goal during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings, held on October 5, 2019, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Spencer Teixeira

Although much can happen from October to June, I have a pretty set Stanley Cup winner, The Nashville Predators.

Three seasons removed from a Finals appearance, the Preds have added major pieces Mikael Granlund, Kyle Turris, Matt Duchene and lost Sam Girard, PK Subban, and Kevin Fiala. At very least, the Preds improved slightly. All 3 of Duchene, Turris, and Granlund are roughly 50 point forwards on a bad day (although Turris struggled to crack 20 last year).

These relatively new additions add to a strong core that includes the underrated Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson. The Preds also have really complete depth in Colton Sissons, Craig Smith, Rocco Grimaldi, and Calle Jarnkrok.

The loss of Subban is huge but the Preds still have a stacked defence with two-way stud Matthias Ekholm, offensive dynamo Ryan Ellis, consistently solid Roman Josi, and young contributor Dante Fabbro. Not to mention 3rd pairing options of veteran Dan Hamhuis, offensively-minded Yannick Weber, and dynamic producer Jeremy Davies.

Nashville also has a real solid (when healthy) goaltending tandem of the experienced Vezina winning Pekka Rinne and the underrated Jusse Saros. Not to be forgotten, this Preds squad is coached by the perennially under-appreciated Peter Laviolette.

I personally believe that this is easily the strongest and most complete team in the West and that they can go toe-to-toe and even beat the scary Tampa Bay Lightning in a 7 game matchup. That being said, the Preds have cracked under pressure in the past two playoffs, which certainly hurts their ability to contend. The time is now for Nashville, we’ll just have to see if they can live up to the championship expectations this time around.

Home/Editorials