Are the Maple Leafs the favourites to win the President's Trophy in 2023-24?
As we draw closer to the start of the NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in an enviable position right now as, objectively, one of the league's best teams. In fact, you could make the argument that they could be sitting at the top by the end of the season and win their first President's Trophy in franchise history - a trophy introduced in 1985-86 - and they could, conceivably, lead the league for the first time since 1962-63.
Last year, the Maple Leafs finished 2nd in the Atlantic Division, 4th in the Eastern Conference, and tied for 4th in the NHL behind the historically good Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, and New Jersey Devils. They finished with 50 wins and 111 points, which was only 1 point behind New Jersey and 2 behind Carolina. With Boston seemingly out of the equation, can Toronto take their spot from 2022-23?
The Leafs have, at least on paper, improved over where they were starting out last season, thanks to the additions of Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Ryan Reaves, and John Klingberg. A full season from Matthew Knies may be the most important addition of all - one that will bolster their top-9 and their special teams. Entering the season with Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll, with how well each had played last season, also provides more confidence between the pipes than last year, as not many were too keen on the Murray acquisition when it had occurred.
As for the rest of the teams, it's a rather short list that can contend for the top spot in the NHL. Carolina, Vegas, New Jersey, Edmonton, and perhaps Colorado will be the likely candidates as they possess the star power, depth, and pedigree of cup contending teams.
Carolina has added Dmitry Orlov, Micheal Bunting, and Tony DeAngelo to what they already had, New Jersey added Tyler Toffoli and extended Timo Meier, Edmonton possess two of the best players in the NHL but finally have some solid depth pieces surrounding them, plus a full year of deadline acquisition Mattias Ekholm anchoring their blueline, and Colorado can't be counted out when they still have Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. Vegas is as deep as they come, flexing their muscles en route to a Cup this past year, so it's likely that they'll be one of the favourites again this year, largely due to the division that they play in.
In saying that, New Jersey's Achilles heel remains their goaltending with Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid, Edmonton need a revival from Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner after a paltry playoff performance, and Colorado will surely miss Gabriel Landeskog and will need their newly-acquired pieces, such as Ryan Johansen, to chip in if they want to have any hope of winning their division, never mind the league.
Using last year as a guide and equating their off-season moves as well as the moves of their rivals, the Atlantic Division crown seems destined to fall into the Leafs' hands, barring a collapse. The Eastern Conference looks to be a three-team race between Toronto, Carolina, and New Jersey, while Edmonton, Colorado, and Vegas will be knocking on their door for the top-seed in the league.
Toronto enters the 2023-24 season with possibly the best assembled season-opening roster they've had in the Auston Matthews era. They will have stiff competition throughout the season but they have vastly improved from last year, while some of their competitors have either remained the same or gotten slightly worse for the wear.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 7 | 360 ANSWERS Are the Maple Leafs the favourites to win the President's Trophy in 2023-24? Will the Leafs win the Presidents Trophy as the league's top regular season team this year? | ||
| Yes | 70 | 19.4 % |
| No | 107 | 29.7 % |
| They'll be top 3, but won't be 1st overall | 150 | 41.7 % |
| They won't even be top 5 | 33 | 9.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
