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Toronto Maple Leafs: 2021-22 Predictions from Around the NHL

By James Tanner

May 1, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Sean Kuraly (52) tries to gain control of the puck while Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) defends during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Sean Kuraly (52) tries to gain control of the puck while Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) defends during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The new Toronto Maple Leafs starts Wednesday, and the first game of the NHL season is Tuesday when the Penguins play the Lightning.

While we are no means through the pandemic yet, the NHL will hopefully be somewhat back to normal this year with most players being vaccinated and fans back in the buildings. The Ontario government recently announced that the Toronto Maple Leafs could play to a full house.

This will be the first full season out of the last three, and of course we are hoping to see the Leafs finally get over that first round hump.

That said, here are some around-the-league predictions for the new season.

Toronto Maple Leafs and NHL Predictions

Biggest Surprise Team:  Ottawa Senators.  No one expects anything from them, especially with Brady Tkachuk sitting out, but I predict they will be a surprise success.  They won’t make the playoffs, but they’ll challenge for a spot.

Biggest disappointment:  Florida and Long Island.  The Panthers are a better team than NYI, but both have the distinction of being the NHL’s most overrated teams.  The Islanders will miss the playoffs, and finally face consequences for consistently bad roster moves.  The Panthers will make the playoffs, but will be no where near being the division winning team some are predicting.

Art Ross Trophy: Mitch Marner.  Playing with an incredible hunger, he will cement himself as the NHL’s 3rd best player and split Hart votes with

Hart Trophy: Auston Matthews.  Matthews will score 70 goals while his partner in crime racks up the assists and wins the scoring title.

Calder:  Jamie Drysdale. The Ducks defensemen will rack up PP points on his way to the Calder.

Norris:  Cale Makar

Vezina: Jack Campbell

Biggest Breakout Player:  Jack Hughes will finally live up to his draft position.

Atlantic Division Winner: Toronto Maple Leafs

Metro:  New York Rangers

Pacific: Vancouver Canucks

Central: Colorado Avalanche

President’s  Trophy: Toronto Maple Leafs

Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Vancouver Canucks

Biggest Renaissance: Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Most Underrated Old-School Hip Hop Album from the 90s: Bone Thugs N Harmony: E 99 Eternal 

Worst Team:  Arizona Coyotes

Biggest Dud Team That People Think Are Good But Isn’t:  New York Islanders and (tie) Chicago Blackhawks.

Olympic Champ:  Team Canada (vs Sweden)

Does Morgan Rielly Sign Extension: Yes

2021 is the year of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Not everyone knows it yet, and since this site is 100% dedicated to them, we aren’t exactly an objective source on this, but trust us anyways!

Next. Leafs Defensive Pairings. dark

The Leafs have the most elite players and they’ve got the best depth.  Their players are the right age, they’ve learned how to lose, and now they’re ready to win.  The combination of Matthews and Marner has become so underrated due to playoff disappointments that they are going to somehow surprise people, despite being two of the NHL’s top five players.

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