The Toronto Maple Leafs Can't Be Blinded By Lucky Winning Streak
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won seven games in a row and are one of, if not the hottest team in the NHL.
This is indisputably awesome. The Toronto Maple Leafs spent the first 50 games of this season underperforming.
They lost nine games to Arizona, Ottawa, Buffalo, Columbus and Chicago. They lost to Columbus 6-5 twice. They routinely blew two goal leads and the only reason Sheldon Keefe wasn't fired earlier was a penchant for insane comebacks at the best of times.
Down four goals in the first to Tampa and about to embark on a five game losing streak? No problem. Down five goals to Columbus? No worries. Deserted by your starting goalies and left for dead? Don't worry, here comes the washed up Martin Jones out of nowhere to save the season.
There were blown leads, crazy comebacks, and the feeling that outside of the core, the team kind of sucked. In fact, it wasn't a feeling so much as a fact.
Then they won seven games in a row.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Can't Be Blinded By Lucky Winning Streak
The Leafs have played well. Especially against Las Vegas. But they also beat some weak teams and the Colorado game was a coin-flip. Realistically, any team needs to get very lucky to win seven in a row.
But when that happens, you really hope the team keeps its' weaknesses in mind and manages its roster like the first 50 games of the year were the real Leafs.
To be sure, there are excellent developments of late. Simon Benoit. Max Domi. Timothy Liljegren especially. Tyler Bertuzzi was good all year and is just starting to get some puck luck.
This team is good, but it can be great.
Adding a third #1 centre would make a huge difference. Adding a star at any position should be a priority. The blue-line is still among the worst in the league and needs at least one star, and probably a second addition as well. Two puck movers on the back-end would make a major difference.
Ryan Reaves and Noah Gregor cannot be on the playoff roster, and neither can Ilya Samsonov. Woll is back, but the Leafs can't risk their season on their unreliable goaltending.
The important thing for the Toronto Maple Leafs management to keep in mind as the trade deadline approaches is that you are never as good as it seems at your best moment. A seven game winning streak is extremely nice and it is impressive.
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However, you can't believe your own hype and fail to improve. This team still has major problems and a winning streak can hide them, but it won't make them go away.