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In a Best-Case Scenario, the 2023-24 Toronto Maple Leafs Are Unstoppable Champs

Mind you, I said best-case scenario for the Toronto Maple Leafs, not most likely

By James Tanner

May 4, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins shake hands after the Bruins defeated the Leafs in overtime in game seven of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins shake hands after the Bruins defeated the Leafs in overtime in game seven of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports / Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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I've been very critical about the Toronto Maple Leafs summer so far.

But that is not because I don't think the Toronto Maple Leafs don't have a good team, it's because I don't think management is doing enough to win while Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are in their primes, which they are right now.

To my mind, you should just pair the two of them with an elite goalie and defenseman and call it a day. Now, easier said that done, but I believe that it could have happened if the Leafs weren't so risk-adverse.

Regardless, their current roster can be very good if everything goes perfectly.

Here's how:

How the Toronto Maple Leafs Best Case Scenario Plays Out

1. Auston Matthews scores another 70 goals and somehow elevates his game even more.

2. Mitch Marner breaks out for a 40 goal 150 point season and wins the Selke and Hart Trophies.

3. Paired With Matthews and Nylander, Max Domi Zach-Hymans his way into our hearts with an improbable age 30 break-out season.

4. Matthew Knies scores 35 times and offially becomes a star.

5. Minten, Niemela and Cowan all forece their way onto the roster in September, giving the Leafs a ton of cap space to play with.

6. Chris Tanev play 82 games and is the best defenseman the Leafs have had since Tomas Kaberle retired.

7. Joseph Woll plays 55 games and wins the Vezina.

8. Oliver Ekman-Larsson cements himself in the Leafs top-four playing with Timothy Liljegren and the Leafs second pairing destroys all competition.

9. A McCabe/Niemela third pairing gives the Leafs the NHL's best blue-line as they domiante 60% of their minutes.

10. John Tavares and Morgan Rielly avoid decline and both players have great years.

11. The rookie breakouts allow the Leafs do ditch the NHL's most poorly spent $7 million, they avoid using any LTIR money until the trade deadline and thus bank a ton of space and are able to add a superstar winger to their fold before going to the playoffs.

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12. Matthews and Marner et al are actualy healthy for once in the playoffs and the Toronto Maple Leafs win their first Stanley Cup since 1967.

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