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Toronto Maple Leafs: Early Atlantic Division Forecast

By Jeremy Ridgewell

TORONTO, ON - MAY 4: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gets set to take a faceoff against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Two of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Lightning defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 4: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gets set to take a faceoff against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Two of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Lightning defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs finished second in the Atlantic Division last season, finishing the regular season with 115 points, a new franchise record. Seven points ahead were the first-place Florida Panthers (122 points).

The Toronto Maple Leafs will not be entering the 2022-23 season as a much better team than last year, but they won’t be much worse.

They added the depth pieces they needed and still have some of the best offensive players in the game. Goaltending will be their biggest question mark this season with Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov.

If the team can get .900 or better goaltending, I think they will be fine.

Toronto Maple Leafs and the Atlantic Division

2023 could be Toronto’s year to win the Atlantic Division.

The Panthers lost a few key players from last season. As for the Tampa Bay Lightning, they have roughly the same team they did last season, minus Ondrej Palat and Ryan McDonagh. However, Tampa Bay is currently $7.1 million over the $82.5 salary cap.

A player or two will need to be traded or placed on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) to allow them to become cap compliant.
(Salary cap info from capfriendly.com)

The next threat for Toronto would be the Boston Bruins. Although they finished fourth in the division last season, they have a talented enough team to challenge for the top spot. Boston has yet to sign restricted free agent (RFA) Pavel Zacha, and it is unknown if Patrice Bergeron will play next season.

Bergeron is 37 years old and has played 18 seasons for the Bruins. Losing him would be a big blow. Bergeron has been one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL for many years.

As I said before, if Toronto can get .900 or better goaltending, I see them finishing first in the Atlantic Division. Right behind them will be the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa has one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and plenty of talent in front of him. They will be the number one threat to Toronto for first place.

The Bruins will finish the season as the third-place team in the Atlantic. Even with some key departures, the Bruins are too talented to be outside the top three. In fourth place will be the Florida Panthers. A lot of things went right for the Panthers last season, but losing Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Mason Marchment will hurt them.

Next up in the Atlantic Division will be the Detroit Red Wings in fifth place. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman has done a great job rebuilding the Red Wings. They finished in sixth last season, but I can see them making a slight jump in the divisional standings this season. In the Atlantic Division’s sixth spot will be the Montreal Canadiens. Adding Kirby Dach and getting a healthy Carey Price will improve Montreal over their last-place finish last season.

"Toronto Maple LeafsTampa Bay LightningBoston BruinsFlorida PanthersDetroit Red WingsMontreal CanadiensOttawa SenatorsBuffalo Sabres"

Rounding out the seventh and eighth spots in the Atlantic Division are the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres. Ottawa has a lot of young talent that is looking to compete.

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I don’t think they’re close to where they need to be to compete for a playoff spot, but they’re getting there. As for the Buffalo, they are in a similar boat as Ottawa, but Buffalo has some older forwards that will need to step up if Buffalo is to have any chance at success.

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