Key Reasons Why the Maple Leafs Are Well Equipped for a Deep Playoff Run
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs are in the best possible spot since the Matthews era began of making a real shot for a Cup run, and we've got half a dozen reasons as to why.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs head into a tough playoff run regardless of who they end up playing, they are possibly the most well equipped we've seen the Leafs been in a long time.
Something feels different about this season, and all of the pieces are seemingly falling into place, it's just up to the team to pull it off.
However, they've set themselves up pretty nicely for a deep push to the Cup, and there's a bunch of reasons as to why.
Let's break it down a bit and explain why they are some of the reasons Toronto could lift the Cup.
Core Four's Performance & Secondary Scoring
The quartet of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares have been outstanding as of late.
Scoring in bunches, showing an extra edge in their game and proving they aren't going down swinging.
Over their last six games, they have combined for 35 points and have finally seemed to break out of their goal scoring funk and have started to pile on the points, which can only build confidence going into the playoffs.
If they can keep things up the way they are, it can mean only good things for Toronto going forward, and they feel like a group who will finally contribute when it matters most.
Max Domi, Nicholas Robertson, Bobby McMann, and Matthew Knies have really picked it up too as of late (though Knies has always been solid, but isn't a Core Four player).
But the team has gotten exactly what they need from their secondary options, and all they need to do is contribute at a steady pace.
Robertson scored twice in his return to the lineup for David Kampf, and seemed way more motivated after sitting on the bench and watching his team have all the fun without him; a great sign for the playoffs.
Domi if steady can be a reliable option, meanwhile McMann is poised to contribute heavily going forward; and could find second line minutes at a regular pace.
New Defense, Goaltending and Coaching Are Changing Everything
What else can be said about the complete turnaround for the back end. Out was Timothy Liljegren, Conor Timmins, Ilya Lyubushkin, Mark Giordano, and TJ Brodie.
In came Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jani Hakanpaa, Philippe Myers, and Brandon Carlo. It's a stark contrast in player depth and types with only Hakanpaa being the real outlier here, but due to injuries.
They are blocking more shots, preventing more scoring chances, and generally being a nuisance to opponents at every turn; add in some much better defensive work up front? It's making the Maple Leafs legitimate, and that's legitimately scary.
Speaking of scary, it also may feel like a bit like The Twilight Zone, but yes, Toronto has strong and reliable goaltending for the first time in what feels like forever.
Combined with that much improved defense has given fans hope; actual tangible hope.
Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll can handle whatever is thrown at them (within reason of course) and their historic season together has proven that goaltending certainly was one of the weakest links on the team, and even though they've had their rough patches, have fought through them and once again; persevered.
However, all of this couldn't be done without Craig Berube and his assistants. Instilling a new mindset, focusing on grit and defense, and never backing down; it's exactly what Toronto needed.
They did just fine with the offensive overload Sheldon Keefe tried to implement, but they lacked completeness, but with Berube it's a complete 180. We have superstars fighting, franchise icons getting testy, and a team willing to fight for each other, literally.
It's a trifecta that's led Toronto to regular season success yet again, but gives hope that the playoffs won't end as quick as they started.
For the Leafs' Sake, Please Just Stay Healthy
This is arguably the most critical factor.
Toronto has easily lost triple digits in terms of games lost from injuries, and have seen pretty much everyone from Auston Matthews to Jani Hakanpaa deal with injuries. Only two players have skated in every game this season (William Nylander and Morgan Rielly).
The team can't afford to have any serious injuries, and are still feeling the sting with Jake McCabe and David Kampf out for at least the next couple of games. It's impossible to recover from a seven-game series if you have guys out for 4-5 days; that's a huge difference from an 82-game slate.
Plus, the team's depth isn't great, let's be honest. It's not the most enticing bunch of misfits outside of the regular lineup, but if push comes to shove, they'll need to be put in the lineup...and need to produce immediately.
It's the playoffs, and timing means everything. If the team ends up shorthanded just as they set to kick things off?
Sayonara Stanley Cup, and goodbye Mitch Marner.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 8 | 409 ANSWERS Key Reasons Why the Maple Leafs Are Well Equipped for a Deep Playoff Run Will the Maple Leafs be able to pull off a run to the Stanley Cup Finals? | ||
| Yes | 313 | 76.5 % |
| No | 96 | 23.5 % |
| List of polls | ||