The Toronto Maple Leafs were the worst team in the NHL last season, but matters are (finally) starting to look up in the Big Smoke.
Toronto was in a clear reconstruct since Brendan Shanahan took over the reins as team president in 2014, and Shanny has made some fantastic strides in an effort to generate the Leafs related again.
Launched in Mike Babcock as coach has already started to pay dividends, along with an influx of young talent emphasized by 2016 No. 1 overall choice Auston Matthews has enthusiasts in the GTA eager for the first time in quite some time.
For a franchise which spent the greater part of a decade treading water as a result of questionable leading office decisions, that means something. Here’s a look at the Maple Leafs’ chances in the upcoming season, courtesy of BetOnline.
Stanley Cup +5000
Should you ever want to have a dig at your Leafs fan buddy, just mention that the year 1967. They’ll know what you are talking about. By the time the 2016-17 NHL season wraps up, it is going to be 50 years since the Stanley Cup came to Toronto. The Leafs are advancing, but do not bank on that trend changing this year.
Eastern Conference +2500
Toronto sits tied with the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators for the 11th-worst chances to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final, before Buffalo (+2800), Carolina (+3300) and Columbus (+3300).
The Leafs have been at the bottom of the barrel in this regard over the previous couple of decades, so at least it reveals oddsmakers have started to show them some respect.
Atlantic Division +1500
Tampa Bay (+130), Florida (+400), Boston (+650), Detroit (+650), Montreal (+700) and Buffalo (+1500) are deservedly rated ahead of the Buds in divisional futures. Provincial rival Ottawa sits connected with the Maple Leafs at +1500. That seems pretty reasonable to me.
Point complete OVER/UNDER 81.5
Considering that the NHL’s new point system has been released in 2005, Toronto has eclipsed 81 points twice. On the other hand, the Leafs have gone over that number just once in the previous four campaigns. In 2014-15 they wound up using a pitiful 68 points, only to place up 69 final year.
To see 81.5 on the plank is somewhat surprising, but it goes to show that this group is moving in the ideal direction. I’m not convinced enough to see much progress just yet, however, so I’d take the UNDER in this situation.
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