The Toronto Maple Leafs Will Win the Atlantic Division

Tampa Bay Lightning

After three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup finals, the Lightning were eliminated in the first round of the 2023 playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Lightning finished the regular season in 3rd place in the division last season. I think the decline in Boston will allow the Lightning to move up a spot in the standings.

The Lightning will enter the 2023-24 regular season with Alex Killorn, Corey Perry, Pat Maroon, and Vladislav Namestnikov all playing elsewhere.

Their departures will not affect the Lightning too much, thanks to the additions of Conor Sheary, Josh Archibald, and Luke Glendening. The core of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Points, Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, and Andrei Vasilevskiy are all still in place.

The number one concern for the Lightning will be health. Some of their core players are not young, and health has been an issue for some of them.

The Lightning have the players to accomplish a great season, but they need to stay healthy.

Although I have them finishing the 2023-24 regular season in 2nd place in the Atlantic Division, it will be a battle between them and the Toronto Maple Leafs for 1st place.

These two teams have a good rivalry going, and seeing them battle for 1st in the division will be entertaining hockey.