Stanley Cup Chances Ranked For All Canadian Teams
By Adam Savard
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs odds of winning the Eastern Conference sit at 90/1 while winning the Stanley Cup is at 200/1. Frankly I’m surprised the odds are that high.
The Maple Leafs had a terrible second half of last season and have less talent on the roster after trading Phil Kessel to the Penguins. Not that there aren’t good players remaining. However taking Kessel and his goal-scoring ability off the team will hurt production from other forwards.
Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk were the only other Leafs to score more than 20 goals. Nazem Kadri is on a one-year deal with much to prove this season. Dion Phaneuf, Morgan Reilly and Jake Gardnier will lead the defense and Jonathan Bernier seems ready to start in goal, though I wonder for how long.
While parts of the future like Leo Komarov are on the roster now others like William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen and this years first round pick Mitch Marner likely aren’t anywhere near the team this year. The roster will instead be filled with journeymen that will work hard to earn trades to contending teams at the deadline.
It’s not about the Stanley Cup this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Because of that I expect Bernier and possibly Nazem Kadri traded at the deadline this year. Kadri has put up reasonable points but has been labeled by one former coach as a challenge. Hopefully for Leafs fans he doesn’t replace Kessel as the face of discontent in Toronto.
Even as a Sabres fan, it’s difficult to see the Maple Leafs so far from Stanley Cup contention. Hockey feels better when the Leafs are good and their brand brings more eyes to the game. With recent strong drafts and Mike Babcock behind the bench, the transition back to Stanley Cup contention is on its way. It will not be this year.
Next: Number Six: What Is Happening In Vancouver?