Well we are just one week away from things returning to normal for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be back playing at the Air Canada Centre in front of actual fans and competing in the Atlantic Division again after the rigors of a makeshift 2020-2021 season are no more.
That means no more North Division and no more facing only Canadian teams. Now we get to welcome players and teams from outside of the great white north, many of whom will offer greater competition and provide a real benchmark for the level of play required to be a true Cup contender…wait, maybe this isn’t such a good thing after all.
The Leafs will be playing the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins on a regular basis as division rivals, not to mention the likes of the always pesky Ottawa Senators and the odds-defying Montreal Canadiens squad. (All stats unless noted hockeydb.com).
But fear not fellow Leafs fans, for I have analyzed these teams on a superficial, if not juvenile, level and have prepared a division preview that explores the flaws and weaknesses of each team so as to momentarily instill a sense hope and/or pride in our team that so often crushes such feelings.
Here is the preview of the Toronto Maple Leafs Atlantic division for the 2021-2022 NHL season along with some roster names that I found particularly amusing: