Toronto Maple Leafs: Way Too Early Atlantic Division Predictions

3rd Place-Tampa Bay Lightning

Both of the last 2 years have featured the Tampa Bay Lightning finishing in 3rd place in the Atlantic, and I see that happening again for the third time in a row.

The Lightning have lost basically all of their depth over the past few years due to salary cap constraints, but a strong core with 2 Stanley Cups remains.

The likes of Ondrej Palat, Yanni Gourde, Corey Perry, Ryan McDonagh, Blake Coleman, Alex Killorn, Ross Colton, and Barclay Goodrow, just to name a few, have all left in the last 3 years, but the Lightning have managed to stay very competitive.

It’s clear Tampa is on the decline, but I still have them making the playoffs, they’re too good to miss it.

2nd Place-Buffalo Sabres

Now this may be the most controversial ranking of them all, but yes, I have the Sabres finishing in 2nd.

They currently have the longest postseason drought in NHL history at 12 years, and to be fair, they have had an awful last 12 years.

This last season, however, finally showed some hope.

In the 2022-23 season, the Sabres had 91 points, which was their best finish since 2011. Once the Sabres figure out their goaltending, (Devon Levi?) they’ll be a team to watch out for.

The Sabres surprised a ton of people last year, and I believe they’ll continue to do so.

1st Place-Toronto Maple Leafs

In first place, I have the Toronto Maple Leafs.

All bias aside, I believe the Leafs have the best roster on paper in the Atlantic. On top of this, most of the teams in this division are either on the rise (Ottawa, Buffalo, Detroit) or on the decline (Boston, Tampa Bay). But the Leafs are right in the middle, and their star players are still in their prime.

Regardless of what happens, it’s going to be a very entertaining regular season, as well as a terrific playoff in the Atlantic division.

Let’s see if my predictions are correct.