Fansided

Projecting every NHL team’s chances of hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2019

By Griffin Youngs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 1: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, poses with his jersey in the dressing room, after he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the Scotiabank Arena on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 1: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, poses with his jersey in the dressing room, after he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the Scotiabank Arena on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

It’s safe to say the rebuild is over for the Toronto Maple Leafs. After the addition of John Tavares this offseason to their already lethal offense, the Leafs have gone from punchline of the league to Stanley Cup contenders in just a few short years.

The Maple Leafs recorded their best season in franchise history last year, finishing seventh in the league and third in the Atlantic Division with 105 points before losing in seven games in the first round to the Boston Bruins.

Why they could win

The Maple Leafs bring one of the most lethal offenses in the league to the table this season with the addition of John Tavares. The top six talent is obviously stunning and easily one of the best in the league, but the depth on the team is strong on its own.

The Maple Leafs top six should really not need any introduction with players like Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, Patrick Marleau, William Nylander and Zach Hyman. What more needs to be said? Tavares is in the midst of his prime; Matthews is going to continue to get better, along with Nylander and Marner; and old man Patrick Marleau just seems like he’ll never slow down at the ripe age of 38 years old.

Even if they didn’t sign Tavares this offseason, you have 30 goal scorer Nazem Kadri up there in his place. Even if every other spot on the team is terrible, a offensive core like that could make you a playoff team. Best part is, thats not all Toronto has. Kadri is certainly one of the best third line centers in the league, and young players like Kapanen and Johnsson could turn into solid producers if they stay on their current pace.

Frederik Andersen is also a great option in net, and there are several options for a backup goaltender ranging from Curthis McElhinney, Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard.

Why they won’t win

Toronto’s defense isn’t nearly as bad as it’s made out to be by the mainstream hockey media, but make no mistake, it still needs some work. Defense was the reason the Maple Leafs couldn’t best the Boston Bruins last year, and it’s exactly the same group going out there this season.

Morgan Reilly is the only defenseman that Toronto can rely on night in and night out. Jake Gardiner is talented defender capable of 50 point seasons, but he is far too inconsistent to be relied on in key moments, and that was on full display with his horrendous performance in Game 7 against Boston. Ron Hainsey is ok, but you never know if a 37-year-old defenseman can suddenly fall off a cliff. Nikita Zaitsez had a terrible injury riddled year after signing a seven year extension, and needs a bounce back if the Leafs don’t want five goals against a night. Travis Dermott and Conor Carrick develop into servicable guys, but its far too much to ask for this year.

What Toronto needs is another top four defenseman to truly be considered Stanley Cup favorites. They have guys like Timothy Liljegren on the way up, but not this year. If they want to win this year, they need to work out some kind of deal to patch up this defense, or that potent offense won’t be able to carry them very far.

Plus, that whole 1967 curse doesn’t help either, nor does not winning a playoff series since 2004.

Conclusion

Toronto is right there with the best teams in the league, and they are going to be for a very long time with this core, but they are just one piece away. Playoffs are almost a certainty, but can they make a deep playoff run with all offense and a weak defense core? Step one is winning a playoff series, and then we can see about raising Lord Stanley. Make no mistake; the Leafs are going to finish as a top five team in the league, and if Andersen can get hot at the right time in the playoffs he could render the weak defense obsolete en route to their first Stanley Cup in the modern NHL.

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