The Leafs may have their best chance yet at a Stanley Cup in 2022
Happy New Year, everyone! January 1st marks the start of a new calendar year and officially means that the Leafs Stanley Cup drought is approaching 55 years. Although Leafs fans have experienced 54 years of heartbreak and disappointment, 2022 may be this teams best chance yet at a Stanley Cup.
THEY ARE BUILT FOR PLAYOFF HOCKEY:
Playoff hockey is different from regular season hockey. There is a reason that the Leafs traded a 1st round pick for Nick Foligno last year and why the Habs will likely get a decent haul for Ben Chiarot at the trade deadline this year. Grit has more value in the postseason.
The Leafs have some players who are built for the playoffs, such as Jake Muzzin and Wayne Simmonds, and this past offseason, Kyle Dubas went out and added Nick Ritchie and Michael Bunting to the fold as well. Both players are great net front presences and their physicality and ability to play the pest role will allow for the Leafs to score more playoff style goals in April. The Leafs also brought back Kyle Clifford, who can help out with his physical play and playoff experience.
Bringing in David Kampf has also made this team better for the playoffs. He's been the third line centre that this team has lacked for years, and we saw last year what a shutdown centre can do for a team's playoff success. David Kampf's ability to matchup with and neutralize other team's top line will allow for one of Auston Matthews or John Tavares to feast on weaker competition and give the Leafs more success in the postseason.
LESS EXPECTATIONS:
When I think about the 2022 Toronto Maple Leafs, they remind me a lot of teams like the 2020 Tampa Bay Lightning and 2018 Washington Capitals. Much like the Leafs, both of those teams were coming off of their most devastating playoff series losses and had been written off as teams that can't get it done in the playoffs.
There are more expectations in Toronto than there are in Tampa and Washington because of the market size, but the Leafs have less expectations this year. Many have the mentality that nothing really matters anymore, other than playoff success. Perhaps the lower expectations that the fanbase have for the team this year will allow the Leafs to play their best hockey in April.
The Leafs will have a tougher first round matchup because of the broken NHL playoff format. Unless they win the Atlantic, the Leafs will likely take on one of the Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. Many people believed that the Leafs' success last regular season was due to playing in the North Division. The Leafs have proved this year that they are one of the league's best and have been powerhouses in a stacked Atlantic Division. Maybe a tougher opponent will help the Leafs to elevate their game.
SECONDARY SCORING:
Last year the Leafs' secondary scoring was great during the playoffs. William Nylander was a rockstar and depth players like Alex Kerfoot and Jason Spezza played key roles in the Leafs' offense. All three of these players are still with the team and having great seasons. They, along with the depth that the Leafs added with players like Kase and Bunting will help this team's depth scoring that is needed on a Stanley Cup run. Of course, none of that matters if the big dogs don't show up, so hopefully Auston, John, Willy and Mitch can get on the board early and often.
THE STARS TOOK LAST YEAR PERSOANLLY:
Last season, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner had career years. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said with their playoff performances as the duo combined for 1 goal in 7 games. We saw in the Amazon Prime All or Nothing documentary how devastated the two were after the team lost Game 7. The two were still in full equipment long after the room had vacated and it clearly showed that they care about the Leafs' success and aren't just there to collect a paycheck.
There is no doubt in my mind that the two do not want to feel that way again. Matthews and Marner coming back with a vengeance and a healthy John Tavares will make life miserable for other teams as the Leafs look to end their lengthy Stanley Cup drought.
We may look back on this article in April and laugh or we may look back and celebrate the fact that this year's team, in fact, WAS different. Either way, between the construction of this teams roster and the lessons learned in the past, 2022 may be this Leafs core's best chance at glory.
