For the first time in over 20 years, it's possible that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators may face each other in the playoffs, but who's future is brighter?
The Ottawa Senators have missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons, but thanks to some savy moves by thier new GM, it looks like they make break that streak this year. As for the Toronto Maple Leafs, this will be the ninth straight season they'll make the playoffs, yet the Senators have more playoff round wins in that timeframe.
Did you read that last sentence correctly? The Senators last made the playoffs in the 2016-17 season, but since they reached the Eastern Conference Finals that year, they have two playoff series victories, compared to Toronto's one. As a Leafs fan that makes me sick, but if you're an Ottawa fan, how are you not yelling that at every Toronto fan you meet?
That's one of the funniest stats I've ever read and it's one of the many reasons why it's so embarassing to be a Leafs fan.
Unfortunately, the Senators now have a brighter future than Toronto Maple Leafs
When the Senators drafted Brady Tkachuk in 2018, many thought that was the start of a new era, but he still hasn't played a playoff game. However, would you rather have had seven first-round exits in eight years or zero playoff games? It would hurt a lot less to not even be given a chance, compared to the Leafs who seemingly rip our hearts out every single year with losses in Game 7's.
So as we get set for the Senators in the playoffs, their team not only looks primed for this year, but for the next few years as their core is still very young, compared to Toronto's. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are locked up for a few years, but the Senators core is much younger and could be more promising, which is scary to say.
The Senators have a solid core of forwards in Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto, who are all locked up for multiple years making way less than Toronto's core. As a result, they've also been able to acquire two top-pairing defenseman in Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot, as well as number-one goalie in Linus Ullmark.
By not having a player on their roster making more than $8.35M, the Senators have been able to spread the love much more, compared to Toronto's philosophy.
For $57.44M, the Leafs have Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll locked up this year. As for the Senators, for $56.175M this year, they have Stutzle, Tkachuk, Cozens, Giroux, Batherson, Chabot, Sanderson and Ullmark.
The Senators have five legitimate fowards, two top defensemen and a number-one goalie for the same price as the Leafs top-four fowards, one defenseman and two goalies.
For one playoff series, an educated hockey fan would probably want Toronto's forward group, but they'd be more inclined to take the Senators defense and goaltender.
However, if the playoffs started now, I would want Ottawa's top players and here's why. We've seen what Toronto's core has done in the past and it hasn't worked. As for the Senators, I would take Brady Tkachuk in a playoff series over anyone on Toronto's roster because he's going to be crazy hungry to win. Just look how he played during the Four Nations Face-Off; he was a man possessed.
After watching his brother Matthew lift a Stanley Cup last year, he's the type of player who's game will elevate in the spring. As for the rest of the Senators core, they're all eger and hungry to win, as none of them have yet to play in the playoffs except for Giroux. With 81 points in 95 career playoff games, Giroux is the perfect veteran to balance out the young Senators roster though because he's played in a Stanley Cup Finals before and can elevate his game in the biggest moments.,
As much as it sucks to say this, the Senators are coming for the Leafs. They're built to win now and they're built to win in the future and it's tough to see. This was supposed to be Toronto's window to win, but based on what we're seeing in Ottawa, I think it's the Senators time.
I'd love to see a playoff series between Toronto and Ottawa, but at the same time, I'd hate to see the Senators win. However, kudos to the Senators organization for what they've been able to accomplish because they're going to be a tough team to beat in the playoffs.