Toronto Maple Leafs Aren’t Alone In Slow Start This Season

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a very slow start this season, but they are far from alone among last year’s playoff sides.

You only need glance at the Eastern Conference standings to realise that it’s not just the Toronto Maple Leafs that haven’t quite found their game yet, though despite this, they’re the only ones being talked about.

Recent two-time champions and Stanley Cup finalist last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are 5-4-0 to start the year. Last year’s losing Eastern Conference finalists, the New York Rangers are 5-3-2.

Looking to the Western Conference, there’s a similar story to be told with reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche off to a slow 4-4-1 start.

There’s Still Hope For the Toronto Maple Leafs

What the current standings (as of October 31) highlight is that this is just one month, the first of the season, and that just because these teams have been slow off the mark, it doesn’t mean we should be writing them off just yet.

The likes of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and indeed the Toronto Maple Leafs have the offensive threats available to them to shake this off and get things going; as we’re already starting to see with Tampa and New York.

However, there is a little cause for concern with some of the faster starters, namely a seemingly rejuvenated Boston Bruins who have gone 8-1-0 since welcoming David Krejci back into the fold and are still a team missing key players.

Likewise, the Vegas Golden Knights are on a mission to prove last year’s missed playoffs were just a blip with a 7-2-0 start to their year, including a strong win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Right now, of the teams above the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division, it feels like the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens lack enough depth and will eventually falter.

There’s a big question mark as to whether the Buffalo Sabres can maintain their current form and likewise, you might ask the same about the Bruins as to whether they’ve just started fast and won’t maintain that pace.

Either way, starting slow shouldn’t sink the Toronto Maple Leafs; the results absolutely need to turn around soon because their division seems tighter than ever, but there’s no need to completely lose hope yet.

Perhaps the reason for Toronto Maple Leafs fans to be a little concerned is the fact that while the Tampa Bay Lightning have started slow; their losses haven’t been against expected lottery teams like the Anaheim Ducks.

Likewise with most slow-starting teams; the Lightning are still proving able to lift their games against the likes of the Arizona Coyotes and San Jose Sharks.

This season is certainly off to a bumpy start, but it’s not gone totally off-course yet. A big November and big performances regardless of the opposition will be needed though, if they are to salvage hope and turn the growing tide of fan frustration around.