More likely than not, the Toronto Maple Leafs will not win the Stanley Cup this year.
That’s not a bold take, as the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967 and haven’t even won a playoff round since 2004. However, if you do think this is the year they’ll finally win a championship, good for you.
Being a Leafs fan is a humbling experience. Whenever they do something great (like win Game 5 vs. Tampa Bay), they fall flat on their face and disappoint you (like losing in Game 7).
However, at the same time, it can be rewarding.
It hasn’t paid off yet, but when it does, it will be the greatest moment in Toronto sports history.
Although this team hasn’t won a Stanley Cup in 50-plus years, it hasn’t all been bad. They’ve made a few Conference Finals’ appearances and if it wasn’t for a terrible non-call in 1993, the team would’ve had a Stanley Cup Finals berth under their belt.
Since those early 1990s’ days, this is the probably the best team that’s been ensembled.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Probably Won’t Win Stanley Cup
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are world-class players and two of the best forwards in Toronto Maple Leafs history. If you can’t accept that, you’re just lying to yourself. When these two are on the ice together, they’re like magicians on ice, shocking the defense with every opportunity they get.
With a 1/32 chance of winning the Stanley Cup, it just seems unimaginable that this team will shock the world and win a title this year.
I know average goaltending has won championship’s before and the team currently has a two-time Stanley Cup winning goaltender on their roster, but I don’t see how Matt Murray can lead another team to victory.
I hope I’m wrong, but transitioning from an AHL goalie to a Stanley Cup winner overnight seems like a tough task.
Not only that, but the core in-tact has yet to change and the team continues to run back the same people who lose year-after-year. One of these year’s they’re bound to breakthrough because they’re really good, but maybe they don’t have what it takes?
I hate to be a pessimist as we get ready for another amazing Leafs season, but it’s how I’m feeling. Watching the Toronto Maple Leafs play meaningful games next June seems like a fairytale, but every streak comes to an end.
The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and even the Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania came to an end eventually, so maybe it’s time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to follow.
But at the same time, probably not quite yet.