Toronto Maple Leafs: Which Eastern Conference Teams Will Miss Playoffs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of just two locks to make the playoffs next season.

Along with Tampa Bay, the team that has gone to three-straight Stanley Cup Finals (and won two of them) the Toronto Maple Leafs are slam-dunk picks to make the upcoming playoffs.

You can call them Smooth Jimmy Apollo’s shoe-in of the week, if you want.

And if you want some reasoning behind this obvious declaration, you may find it here. 

But if you want to know which loser teams will be missing the playoffs come next April, then continue to read.

Toronto Maple Leafs Are a Lock, but These Teams Are Not

Though I won’t guarantee it, I think Boston is going to come third in the Atlantic. 

The Panthers have fallen off, and their season was full of a lot of empty calories anyways.  Boston, however, still has Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak, along with Charlie McAvoy.

I expect them to be back for one last year, at least, of contention.

I think the Metro might be the worst division in hockey, or at least the most average.  Any of these teams might make it, and most of them won’t.

The Islanders have a great goalie who I think is enough to get them to the playoffs.  The Devils will win the Division and Sidney never missed the playoffs.

When it comes to wild card teams, I like the Rangers and the Panthers to make it in.

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That is it.  That means the following teams will miss the playoffs: Ottawa, Detroit, Buffalo, Montreal along with Carolina, Columbus, the Capitals and Flyers.

A lot of people have Carolina winning the cup, but they will be the NHL’s biggest let down.  Lock it in folks, I’m only wrong 98% of the time!