3 Reasons Why Toronto Maple Leafs Will Win Stanley Cup
No. 3: Veteran Presence
Every team that wins a Stanley Cup needs to have someone or something to play for, other than the cup itself.
Similar to how the Colorado Avalanche won the cup for Ray Bourque, the Toronto Maple Leafs want to do the same for Joe Thornton and Jason Spezza. Both of those veterans chose Toronto, because they thought it was the best place for them to win, and every player in the room is going to do everything they can to make that dream come true.
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are going to have another 15 cracks at Stanley Cup, but that’s not true for their idols, Spezza and Thornton. They only have one or two more years left in the NHL and the young guys in the room clearly look up to them and want to win for them.
Not only are Thornton and Spezza two veterans without a ring, but Wayne Simmonds and John Tavares have been in the NHL for a decade-plus without winning. Both of them also signed in Toronto to chase a championship, so you know they’re going to find an extra gear when the playoffs start.
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Just because you have those veterans on the team, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to win, but any added incentive is huge in the room. The added motivation by the veterans could be the difference in the playoffs that helps Toronto get over the hump for the first time in 54 years.