Toronto Maple Leafs 2020-21 Season: An Underdog Story

The Toronto Maple Leafs may be one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, but their entire roster is filled with underdogs.

The term underdog in sports, typically refers to the team that is projected to lose. Despite winning almost every night, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a number of underdog stories this season, starting with architect behind the team.

Kyle Dubas has been frequently criticized, unfairly or fairly, most notably because of his age.

The typical hockey executive is at least 50-years old and has played in the NHL, so as a result, Dubas has had a target on his back. However, he’s continued to push through those stereotypes and has performed admirably as the general manager of the Leafs.

Not only has Dubas been an underdog, but the coach he hired, has been as well.

Without going into too much detail, Sheldon Keefe had a troubled junior hockey career, before his NHL playing career fizzled out. From there, his entire persona completely flipped and he’s now one of the brightest young minds in hockey. .

When Mike Babcock was fired, there was criticism to hire an inexperienced coach at the NHL level, but he’s proven everyone wrong.

Believe It or Not, the Toronto Maple Leafs Are An Underdog Story

Zach Hyman

Throughout minor hockey and even after getting drafted to the NHL, Hyman was criticized.  Instead of recognizing his work-ethic, the critics said that he only made it to the NHL, because of his family and that’s completely untrue. Hyman could have let that get to him, but instead, he’s used it as fuel and his regular 20-goal campaigns are not a fluke.

Alex Galchenyuk

One of Toronto’s most recent additions is Galchenyuk. Currently on his seventh NHL team in three years, nobody thought he’d work out in Toronto. Instead, he has 11 points in 23 games and has fit nicely beside John Tavares and William Nylander. He’s proving all of those other teams wrong who traded him and is making the Leafs look very smart for bringing him in.

Adam Brooks

As you continue to look down the lineup, 25-year-old rookie Brooks is having a season to remember. With five goals in nine games, it’s finally looking like he’s going to get a steady chance in an NHL lineup.

Brooks played five years of junior hockey before he got drafted as an over-ager and has continued to fight his way into an NHL lineup after four years in the AHL. When Keefe puts Brooks in the lineup, it seems to insert energy into his linemates Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton, who have embraced him and have benefited from his play.

Jason Spezza

Speaking of Spezza, he’s not someone who should be producing at the level he is right now. Originally put on waivers near the beginning of the season due to cap-concerns, Spezza has looked like a 27-year-old version of himself, instead of the 37-years-old age that he actually is.

Justin Holl

The most unlikely player and one of the biggest underdogs on this roster is Holl. After being healthy-scratched for over 70 games two years ago, he’s used that as motivation to become a top-four NHL defenseman. The former second-round pick always had the skill to do it, but he was finally able to excel after being given an opportunity by Keefe and Dubas.

Jack Campbell

After getting drafted with the 11th overall pick 11 years ago, the word “bust” was grouped with Campbell’s name regularly. As a three-time starting goalie for Team USA at the World Junior Hockey Championships, there was so much potential, but he never lived up to it, until now.

Campbell has a 16-2-2 record and some people aren’t convinced yet. There are those who actually think Freddie Andersen is a better option. Despite having some of the best stats in hockey, Campbell still has to prove his critics wrong every time he steps in the net.

That’s the definition of an underdog story and hopefully Campbell and the rest of his underdogs can use that chip on their shoulder as a motivating factor towards winning the Stanley Cup.