Toronto Maple Leafs preview: John Tavares has Leafs on the edge of glory

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 07: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) congratulates teammate Goalie Frederik Andersen (31) as the team celebrates its 4-2 win after the final NHL 2018 regular-season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 7, 2018 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON., Canada. (Photo by Jeff Chevrier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images /

Season Prediction

The Toronto Maple Leafs have incredible expectations entering this season. I think they have what it takes to live up to them. The Leafs have the offense necessary to make up for the defensive issues. And frankly, people are probably overrating their defensive issues a bit.

It takes a heck of a lot more than skill to win a Stanley Cup. Just ask the Washington Capitals. It takes a mighty amount of luck. Things have to bounce your way. You have to score weird goals. You need supernatural performances. And it sure helps to have some solid goaltending.

Now, the Leafs have Andersen, so they have that last part down. Whether or not he’s great is up for debate. But I think the Leafs can definitely win a Stanley Cup with Andersen in goal. He’s good enough.

Unfortunately, the rest of that stuff is hard to predict. That’s why hockey is so cruel and heartless. However, the Leafs have the toughest part down. They’re great enough that they’ll be in a position for those bounces to go their way. And the Leafs probably have the talent to overcome a bit of that bad luck.

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If Toronto can fix their defensive issues, and I think the pieces are there for them to do so, they could bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada.

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