Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Who’s Better?
The Toronto Maple Leafs will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the First Round of the playoffs this year, but who has the better roster? (Note: It is possible that last night’s games made it so the Leafs play Boston, which seemed very unlikely at the time of writing. If this is the case, then consider this a fun exercise and nothing more!).
The Toronto Maple Leafs can’t catch a break. They finally get home-ice advantage in the playoffs and finish the season with their best point-total in franchise history and what they do get for it?
A date with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
Although the Lightning have won the last two Stanley Cup’s, their team isn’t the exact same as it was for those two runs. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a fantastic roster, but they don’t have the exact same amount of depth as they did.
However, they have the same core intact and it wouldn’t be shocking if the Lightning became the first team since the 1980s to win three straight championships.
So who has the best roster?
Top-Six Forwards
Toronto Maple Leafs:
- Auston Matthews
- Mitch Marner
- John Tavares
- William Nylander
- Michael Bunting
- Alex Kerfoot
Tampa Bay Lightning:
- Steven Stamkos
- Ondrej Palat
- Nikita Kucherov
- Nick Paul
- Brayden Point
- Ross Colton
Advantage: Toronto Maple Leafs
Since Matthews is the Maurice “Rocket” Richard and potential Hart Trophy winner this year, I have to give the nod to Toronto. This is a really tight battle, but overall, I still would take Toronto’s top-six over Tampa’s.