Toronto Maple Leafs: Back to the Grind in the Atlantic Division

Running away with a division crown and never having to worry about not making the playoffs  was a luxury the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t have upon returning to the Atlantic Division.

The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs played in the Atlantic Division- 18 months ago – they were 19 points out of first, 11 points out of second, 3 points up on fourth, and 10 points up on fifth. You can guess the teams. And since that time, it’s hard to say any of those teams have regressed much, if at all.

While Tampa and Boston are still the teams to beat, the likes of Florida and Montreal –  even Ottawa and Detroit – continue closing the gap on Toronto. And then there’s Buffalo.

Won’t be anything like the walk in the North last season, so let’s take a quick peek into the return to the Atlantic.

Toronto Maple Leafs and the Atlantic Division

Boston

Taylor Hall finally finds a fit, riding shotgun next to Perfection. The hope this season is for Foligno or Haula to fill in admirably for now-departed, long-time #2 center Krejci. A lot riding on Ullmark and Swayman to hold it down – but Rask is up for a cheap return.

Buffalo

As the Eichel saga drags on in one hand, in the other might be worse – 40-year-old Anderson splitting duties with Dell and Tokarksi. $750K a piece.

Detroit

Sorcery by acquiring 2021 Calder candidate Nedeljkovic for peanuts. 2020 #4 Raymond and 2019 #6 Seider are transitioning. With cap, players, prospects, picks, and money to leverage, Stevie Y has built a war chest of assets at his disposal.

Florida

Made possible by cutting short Yandle, Reinhart is the big catch, not Jumbo. The big concern is if Bob can’t find his groove, can 2019 #13 Knight fast-track last season’s success?

Montreal

Getting Dvorak as a result of losing Kotkaniemi ain’t so bad. At $4.45M per for the next four years, that’s a win. Weber destined for “LTIR” but addition of Savard keeps defense big and strong. Caufield is poised to run away with the Calder. Drouin is good-to-go. Hopefully, Price is too.

Ottawa

With forwards Stepan, Dadonov, and Anisimov gone, the Sens can infuse more talented youth into their well-oiled D.J. machine.

Tampa Bay

We’ll see if losing Gourde, Johnson, Coleman, and Goodrow is enough to derail this gravy train, but with strong as ever defense and a forward-group-of-seven with back-to-back championships, you wouldn’t bet against it – with or without Vasilevskiy.

No-Free-Pass Season

As for the Toronto Maple Leafs – same core playing the same style in the same system, riding the same wave. You know the deal. Lost Hyman, got Ritchie. Lost Andersen, got Mrazek. Lost Thornton, got Kampf, Lost Galchenyuk, got Bunting. Throw in some wild cards (Gusev, Ho Sang, Kase) for good luck.

If the Leafs can’t get in the top 3, they’ll be in a massive dog fight for one of the two wild-card spots decided by conference not division; and if they happen to squeeze in, that’s a first round dance with either division champ. Sound familiar?

Dubas has done plenty and the Leafs are an entertaining bunch, but that’s not good enough. Comparatively speaking, time away from the Atlantic, the Leafs should be further ahead.

Now’s their chance to show that they are.