Predicting when every NHL team will win its next Stanley Cup

Toronto Maple Leafs

It wasn’t long ago when Toronto fans didn’t want to admit that they were Maple Leafs fans. That’s all changed thanks to the front office, head coach Mike Babcock, Austin Matthews, John Tavares and as you can see the list goes on for the Leafs.

After a quick rebuild, the Maple Leafs are looking at a decade from here on out at being legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

There’s no doubt that at least one Stanley Cup championship will happen during that span, but the team’s next Cup is right around the corner. Matthews and Tavares offer the superstar presence that any team needs in order to not only reach the Stanley Cup Final, but win it.

But don’t forget about Mitch Marner, who led the Leafs with 69 points last season (22 goals, 47 assists); and William Nylander who will blossom into a top player and take full advantage of the time and space he sees out on the ice thanks to Toronto talented depth on offense.

Connor Brown and Nazim Kadri will continue to contribute in other ways that the skilled players cannot, and Morgan Reilly will prove that he can lead a defense corps deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Yes, goaltender Frederek Andersen will go down as one of the, if not the most, clutch Maple Leafs goaltender that Toronto has seen in quite some time, but Toronto could still improve the defense in front of his net.

Toronto is one all-star defenseman away from assuring the team’s fate as a Stanley Cup champion. Expect that transaction to happen this season, or next, and for the Leafs to win their next Stanley Cup in 2020. That’s also just in time for veteran forward Patrick Marleau to hoist his first ever Stanley Cup before he retires after his contract expires that season.