Toronto has no more excuses because Mitch Marner and Vegas just gave them the blueprint to field a championship-level team - and it took less than a year.
The Vegas Golden Knights await whoever wins between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens as they've already cruised to the Stanley Cup Finals after a dominant sweep of the Colorado Avalanche.
If this postseason has been any indication, they not only have a great shot at winning but could be seen as the clear favourites.
Led by Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev, Shea Thedore and pretty much a star-studded cast of players; Vegas looks unstoppable. John Tortorella came in for the last stretch of the season, turned them into a united brotherhood, and has the chance to earn his first Stanley Cup since 2003-04.
What's even more impressive is that Vegas not only did this thanks to a deep and balanced lineup, but they did so in record time because it all came together in less than a year.
Every move Vegas made in 11 months is on Toronto's to-do list this summer
Vegas started things off hot by signing Marner after acquiring him in a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs that saw Nic Roy head the other way.
Then they noticed they had issues with the backend and splurged for Rasmus Andersson to make sure they had a two-way right handed defenceman. Carter Hart came in after an extended absence and signed a free agent deal; and Tortorella was the final piece to make everything click.
Let's see how quick this timeline actually unfolded:
June 30 - Mitch Marner is acquired
October 24 - Carter Hart is signed
January 18 - Rasmus Andersson is acquired
March 29 - John Tortorella is hired
It seems like every three to four months the Vegas front office would take an audit of the team and see where they need improvement then pull the trigger on doing so.
Marner didn't cost them a lot in the end, Hart was a free agent, Andersson was traded for two picks and two players - a steep but necessary cost.
Tortorella was on ESPN a few months ago and now he's leading a powerful Vegas team to the Finals. The team identified that Bruce Cassidy wasn't the answer and sought out 'Torts' to turn things around.
All of those issues; a new coaching voice, a star playmaker, consistent goaltending and stronger defence are all issues the Maple Leafs have on their plate but luckily for them Vegas handed them a blueprint.
Here's how Toronto can follow a very similar timeline:
Now until June 26th - Hire David Carle or Jay Woodcroft
June 26th - Draft Gavin McKenna
July 1 - Sign Rasmus Andersson/Darren Raddysh, Alex Tuch
September - Training camp with healthy, revamped roster and new coach
Toronto's rebuild isn't a few years away if John Chayka manages to move as quickly and decisively as Vegas. He's not afraid to make the trade that shakes things up or brings in someone unexpected to turn the tides. He's got moxie, and that's what the team desperately needs.
Toronto has Gavin McKenna coming in to help Auston Matthews which could accelerate things even more
Vegas built their powerhouse around veteran performers who can step up in the clutch and it's worked swimmingly. Toronto had tried to do the same for a decade and failed, so a new approach is needed.
The team now has Gavin McKenna to build around in addition to Auston Matthews and there's a great mix of veteran leadership and youth potential that's actually getting a fair shake.
Toronto making the same moves as Vegas could put them at a higher ceiling for the long-term, given the focus on McKenna as well as Easton Cowan, Matthew Knies and Ben Danford.
They have the cap space to make a move to improve their blueline like Vegas and ironically could call upon Andersson this summer if they elect not to re-sign him. They can certainly splurge for a star winger like Alex Tuch or trade for Robert Thomas to vastly improve the top-six.
Goaltending isn't necessarily a sore spot as long as everyone stays healthy, but having two young goalies in Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov ready to make the jump will help their future outlook for sure.
The last piece is bringing in that head coach who can stabilize the room and put forth a game plan that works. David Carle is that guy, but convincing him to leave the NCAA isn't going to be easy though there's at least been some discussion.
The team could go towards a veteran voice like Tortorella but should probably focus on a more modern and analytical coach that can adapt to situations with raw data instead of pure instinct.
Toronto has all the potential to be just as good or better than Vegas, so long as they make the correct decisions and be patient with their choices and were just given the winning formula by their former star winger and his crew.
Do you think the Maple Leafs can do what the Vegas Golden Knights accomplished in less than a year?
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