Believe it or not, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup this year.
Saying that statement gives me chills. As a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan, there have only been a few years where the franchise has had a real chance at lifting the Stanley Cup. Although the roster has been playoff-bound every season since Auston Matthews arrived, they haven’t had a true opportunity to win, until now.
It’s been 20 years since the Leafs had a chance at a Stanley Cup. They haven’t won a playoff round since 2004 and haven’t made it to the Conference Finals since 2002. If you were born after 2000, you have no recollection of the Leafs ever being good.
Instead of wearing the No. 81 and No. 42 like Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak, kids in minor hockey in Toronto wanted to wear No. 87 and No. 8 like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Kids didn’t dream of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, because they gave them nothing to cheer about. It was a sad truth, but that’s changed thanks to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
Wearing your blue-and-white jersey is cool again and the new era of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey is going to spark a generation of fans that cheer for their hometown team, instead of a team in the United States.
The Leafs have a real chance at winning the Stanley Cup this year and even though we won’t be allowed to attend any games, it’s about to be an exciting few months in Toronto.
Here are three reasons why the Leafs are going to win the Stanley Cup.