Heading into the 2023-24 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs hold the best odds to win the Stanley Cup according to several sports betting sites.
The Toronto Maple Leafs saw several major changes in the offseason for themselves also were gifted with a ton of luck across the Atlantic division, with the always competitive Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning suffering major losses that should hypothetically take them out of the race for the division title and contenders in the Eastern Conference.
With Tampa, the team will be without superstar goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy for some time, while the Bruins lost Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and several other important pieces following a historic regular season.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs adding big names like Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, John Klingberg, and others, the team also elevated Joseph Woll, Fraser Minten, and Matthew Knies, who will look to take a big step in being full-time NHLers with the blue and white this season.
It seems the Leafs have found their depth scoring for the first time in a long time, with the team’s third and fourth lines looking more respectable than in previous years, along with a 2nd PowerPlay unit that has improved extremely compared to years past.
Morgan Rielly moving to the 2nd unit could be an added boost for a team that’s needed help with an extra man on the ice, along with the additions of Domi and Bertuzzi anchoring the unit.
Realistically, the Leafs could be in line to see several players crack the 60-point mark, with big names like Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, and William Nylander looking to be atop the league lead in scoring. With William Nylander still not under contract for the 2024-25 season, the 27-year-old could be embarking on a career year scheduled to be played next to John Tavares and Max Domi.
The biggest questions surrounding the Leafs and their goal of capturing their first Stanley Cup since 1967 has to be the teams backend and goaltending, with the team currently looking thin in their top 6.
Issues with Mark Giordano’s age, and Klingberg’s ineffective play defensively could become a problem down the line, something Brad Treliving will certainly have to answer at the NHL Trade Deadline.
As for the net, Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll will have to take a big step this season in order for the Leafs to make some noise come this postseason, as the preseason in net looked very worrisome. But given the way Samsonov looked this past postseason, that problem could become a non factor if he’s healthy. Matt Murray is a non-option for the team, following news that he’ll be out for 6-8 months.
Emerging teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings could pose a threat, but given their history of incredible regular seasons, the Leafs should be the frontrunner to win. The Panthers could be the Leafs toughest competition.
When you break it down, the Leafs are the clear favorite, and winning the Atlantic Division will give them the best chance possible to win the Stanley Cup.