Stanley Cup Finals Start Tonight and the Toronto Maple Leafs Are on the Verge
By James Tanner
Toronto Maple Leafs superstar, and best player in franchise history, Auston Matthews, has played eight seasons in the NHL so far.
Connor McDavid is in his ninth NHL season and about to embark on his first Stanley Cup Final appearance. Nathan McKinnon played in his first Stanley Cup final in his ninth year as well. The Toronto Maple Leafs can take this as some good news.
One, however, cannot count on coincidences to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Leafs don't have to - they are right on the verge.
Stanley Cup Finals Start Tonight and the Toronto Maple Leafs Are on the Verge
First, a lot of people underrate the Leafs, but in the last eight years they've learned how to lose which builds character and is a prerequisite for winning under most circumstances.
Second, the Oilers and Panthers are pretty much the Leafs equals. There isn't a huge difference between these teams. The Panthers and Oilers - unusually - are probably the NHL's best two teams. The Leafs finished 10th overall and lost in game 7 of the opening round, but they did that with a waiver-wire goalie and a blue-line that was among the worst in the NHL. Assuming both issues are even moderately addressed, the Leafs will be a top team next year for sure.
Third, the Leafs are entering a magical period where their best players are all in their prime, they have a whole wave of excellent prospects about to make an impact and salary cap space.
Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner haven't gotten it done yet, but if you look at the individual circumstances of each season it would be extremely silly (stupid even) to just assume they never will.
They are clearly an elite trio, and they are about to enter the season in which NHL superstars are at their best. John Tavares and Morgan Rielly are still well above average. Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, Joseph Woll and Timothy Liljegren represent a new waive of young players that can finally augment the core on the cheap.
Not to mention the potential of having one or more of Topi Nimela, Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten.
The Leafs not only have about $18 million to spend, but they can easily clear another $7 which is currently the worst spent money in the NHL.
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So they have a team with basically perfect circumstances and $25 million to spend.