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Toronto Maple Leafs Biggest Rival Is Going to Be the Surprise of the NHL

By James Tanner

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 30: Sam Reinhart #23 of the Buffalo Sabres knocks down a high puck against Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on November 30, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 30: Sam Reinhart #23 of the Buffalo Sabres knocks down a high puck against Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on November 30, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs biggest rival is not – as many in Quebec wish – the Montreal Canadiens.

The fact is the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens just haven’t ever been good at the same time, and their rivalry is a relic of the days when there were only six teams.  The Leafs biggest rival isn’t the Bruins, though they are a team to which most fans would like to exact a modicum of revenge suitable to the Dark Ages.

The Senators think they are the Leafs biggest rival, which is cute, but not true.  The Leafs are set to have a great season, and it’s a shame that they won’t be playing their biggest rival, until  possibly in the playoffs.

Especially when their biggest rival is poised to have a coinciding break out season.

The Sabres Are Going to the Big-Time

The Leafs closets geographic opponent is also their biggest rival.  They play in the same division, and their competitive fortunes for the last decade or so have strangely coincided.

And Buffalo is going to be great this year.  I pick them to win their division which includes the Flyers, Penguins, Bruins, Capitals, Rangers, Devils and Islanders.

Boston is the de facto best team, but I suspect they could be on the decline. They certainly won’t be able to match the ridiculous goaltending they got last year.  The Flyers are overrated, and the Penguins and Capitals are both in hard decline.  The Islanders are garbage, and will be among the worst teams in the NHL.

The Rangers and Devils are on the way up, but,  like Ottawa, it’s too soon.

The Sabres will be the class of the division.  Their fortunes, much like the Leafs, are tied to the belief (or, I should say FACT) that elite players are essentially all that matters.

Jack Eichel is, along with McDavid, Matthews and MacKinnon, one of the best players in the NHL.  Expect him to challenge for the Hart now that he’s paired with Taylor Hall, another ELITE Player who, if healthy is also among the best in hockey.

And rounding out their amazing trio is Rasmus Dahlin who is going to be a top five NHL defenseman starting anytime now.  I admit the goaltending is a mystery and it may be the deciding factor here, but how many people reading this thought two years ago that the best goalies in the world would be Robin Lehner, Darcy Kuemper, Tomas Greisse etc?

For all we are able to predict about goalies, you might as well guess that Carter Hutton will be the new Dominick Hasek.

Next. Leafs Top 10 Prospects (Updated). dark

Either way, look for the Sabres to shock the NHL with their first Division Title in what might as well be the first time ever.  Perhaps 2021 could give us the normally impossible Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres Final.

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