Editor In Leaf
Fansided

Time Is Running Out to Make the Toronto Maple Leafs a Serious Contender

General manager Brad Treliving has had a year to assess the Leafs roster. His moves over this offseason and next will determine whether the team can capitalize on a dwindling window for a championship.

By Jeremy Franks

Jun 1, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Toronto Maple Leafs new general manager Brad Treliving is introduced at a press conference at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Toronto Maple Leafs new general manager Brad Treliving is introduced at a press conference at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports / Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next

Life comes at you fast. Almost a decade ago the Toronto Maple Leafs hit rock bottom and started to build the foundation for what they hoped would be a consistent championship-contending team.

Finishing at the bottom of the league standings after the 2015-2016 season led to the selection of stud center Auston Matthews first overall in the NHL draft. Prior drafts had the Toronto Maple Leafs attain defenseman Morgan Rielly and wingers Mitch Marner and William Nylander with high first-round picks.

Soon, free agent center John Tavares was added to the mix on a seven-year deal to signal the start of a title push.

With one year left on Tavares' deal, the Leafs have only once made it to the second round of the playoffs. The core has remained the same while coaches and the supporting cast of players have had numerous changes.

The Leafs talent-laden roster is not baby-faced anymore and many years have passed them by with nary a long postseason run. Leafs management must add the proper pieces to the roster over the next two offseasons to take advantage of a quickly shrinking window to a title.

Time Is Running Out to Make the Toronto Maple Leafs a Serious Stanley Cup Contender

The Leafs and their Atlantic Division rival Florida Panthers, finished eight points apart after the eighty-two-game regular season. That's not much separation, but the chasm between the two teams is significant.

The Panthers barely made the NHL playoffs a year ago, but a first-round upset of the Boston Bruins was a springboard to a Stanley Cup Final appearance. They ended the Leafs season during the second round, winning the series in five games.

They followed that surprising run with a first-place Atlantic Division finish this season and are again playing for a title. Thus far, they look determined to take care of the unfinished business from last season's runner-up showing.

The Panthers have great goaltending, depth at forward and defense plus a fantastic coach. The Leafs have super-talented forwards and a whole lot of questions.

Home/Maple Leafs News