Toronto Maple Leafs: Pros and Cons of an All Canadian Division

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a busy offseason, and I’m sure they can not wait to get the season started.

The problem is no one knows when that will be yet. There has been recent speculation that when the NHL returns in January or February, it will be a shortened 48 games season.  Will those 48 games see the Toronto Maple Leafs in a new division?

An idea that has been mentioned is the possibility of an all Canadian Division if the Canadian/United States border remains closed. The league may try to play the upcoming season in a series of divisional bubbles to limit travel and keep staff and players safe.

Having the Toronto Maple Leafs and the other six Canadian teams all playing in a Canadian Division will have its Pros and Cons. Here is what I believe those will be.

Pros:

Rivalries

If the NHL decided to have an all Canadian Division for an entire 48 game season, each of the seven Canadian teams would play the other six teams eight times.

That would be great for rivalries such as the Toronto Maple Leafs versus the Montreal Canadiens or Edmonton Oilers versus the Calgary Flames. It could also create new rivalries or revive dormant ones such as the Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators or the Flames and Vancouver Canucks.

I don’t think fans would have a problem with this as rivalries are a part of the history between some of these teams. The rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens goes back decades.

Bubbles

NHLPA Executive Don Fehr has stated that the players will not agree to play in bubbles and be isolated from their families for an entire season, even a shortened one. However, Moshe Lander, who is a senior lecturer in the economics of sports, gaming, and gambling at Concordia, University says the NHL could use a modified bubble system.

“You come into the bubble for say four weeks, you play 14 games, then everybody gets a two-week break,” said Lander. [cbcnews.ca]

If the NHL does break up into four divisions, they could have two divisions playing while the other two are off and then switch. That will allow the NHL to have games televised regularly.

Star Power

Having teams like the Maple Leafs and Oilers play each other eight times allows fans to watch Auston Matthews play against Connor McDavid eight times. As a fan of the game, that is an exciting possibility.

Cons:

A Start and Stop Schedule

If the NHL was to use the format mentioned above, then what kind of toll will it take on the players when they have to take a two-week break after playing four in a row. There will be no rhythm as each time the players return, they will be coming in cold. That could prove to be even harder on goaltenders who rely heavily on rhythm and repetition.

After watching your team play for four weeks, fans will then have to wait two weeks to see their team play again. That might not be the greatest for ratings.

 Star Players Across The Border

Not being able to watch McDavid versus Sidney Crosby or Matthews versus Jack Eichel is a bit disappointing for both fans and players alike. Players want to be playing against the best their league has to offer. It is always a good test to see how one measures up against the league’s top players.

It might also put a damper on the ratings as the NHL won’t have the Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens playing against the Florida Panthers or Arizona Coyotes.

Players Not Playing Against Former Teams

This off-season, the Toronto Maple Leafs, added a bunch of new players. It would be disappointing to see players such as Joe Thornton or Wayne Simmonds not get to play against their former teams. On the flip side, Toronto fans won’t get to see the Leafs play against Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson, who were both traded this off-season.

My Thoughts On The Toronto Maple Leafs And All Canadian Division

On one hand, I think it is a good idea for the NHL to have an all Canadian Division. During a regular NHL season, teams in the Eastern and Western conferences only play each other two times a season, so seeing the Leafs play the Oilers, Flames, Jets, and Canucks eight times would be nice.

On the other hand, it does take away the intensity of playing against rivals such as Boston or Buffalo. It also prevents a lot of the players who are from Canada to play against their home team or favourite team growing up.

Right now, there are still so many unknowns about what the 2020-21 season will look like or how it will function, so for now, I will keep my fingers crossed that we can have a somewhat normal season.