5 shocking predictions for the Toronto Maple Leafs 2024-25 NHL season

The Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup and Mitch Marner wins the Conn Smythe

In order for the Leafs to sneak into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, it will require them to play many do-or-die games towards the end of the season.

By playing every game practically like a Game Seven playoff game down the stretch, they will develop the proper winning mindset, character and determination heading into the rigors of the playoffs.

In doing so, both the stars and role players on the Leafs team drastically step up their games at the right time. While playing to Berube’s infallible system perfectly, they end up cruising through round after round in the playoffs like never before.

More importantly, after all these years, Marner finally comes up big in the games that matter most. He does so by becoming a part of the Leafs newly formed super line for the playoffs with Matthews and William Nylander. (All stats from NHL.com and salaries from puckpedia.com)

As a result, Marner captures the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs while breaking Doug Gilmour’s club record of 35 points in a single playoff season in the process. As for the Leafs, the mercifully end their futility record of 58 consecutive seasons without a Stanley Cup win by finally taking home the championship title once and for all.