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Toronto Maple Leafs: Atlantic Division Power Rankings November

By Alex Hobson

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 17: Brandon Carlo #25 of the Boston Bruins chases after Kasperi Kapanen #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 6-4. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 17: Brandon Carlo #25 of the Boston Bruins chases after Kasperi Kapanen #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 6-4. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QUEBEC - OCTOBER 26: Michael Hutchinson #30 of the Toronto Maple Leafs just made a pad save against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on October 26, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – OCTOBER 26: Michael Hutchinson #30 of the Toronto Maple Leafs just made a pad save against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on October 26, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images) /

Florida Panthers

Alex: Up next, following the Boston Bruins, we have the Tampa Ba-no, the Toronto Ma-no, the…Florida Panthers?

I gotta give credit where credit’s due.

The Panthers have been playing some good hockey this season. In a division where the top three was hands down expected to be Boston, Tampa Bay, and Toronto, they saw an opportunity with the latter two teams getting off to a slow start, and they ran with it.

The motto surrounding the Panthers this season has been simple. Goals will be scored. The Panthers have been scoring a ton this season, sitting at fifth in the league for overall goals for, but at the same time they sit in the bottom five for goals against.

It’s clear that one of the Panthers’ most noticeable issues this year has been goaltending, which was unexpected considering their highlight signing of the offseason was the top goalie on the market in Sergei Bobrovsky.

Bobrovsky has seen the weakest start to his season since 2011-12, sporting a GAA of 3.48 and a save percentage of .884.

It’s usually unfair to blame a team’s problems on the goalie, but considering Bobrovsky’s track record, you would think that something has to give eventually.

With all this being known, Wilbert, and assuming the Toronto Maple Leafs and Lightning don’t continue their slump for much longer, do you think the Panthers need to do something drastic in an effort to improve their goals allowed? Or are they better off staying put? 

Wilbert: “The Panthers need to stay put, definitely.

Regarding their goaltending situation that is. I don’t see Bobrovsky as a problem, yet. He’s still one of the best goaltenders over the past years, a slow start to the season with a new team and a different style won’t change that.

The Panthers are looking like a legitimate playoff team for the first time in years, management in Florida would do wise to try and add some extra depth at the deadline.

The fans finally have a contending team to cheer for again, they shouldn’t waste that.”

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