NHL Network and Hockey News writer shares thoughts on the Maple Leafs chances to win Stanley Cup

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Chris Gerics
August 29, 2024 (9:51 PM)

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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY Sports

After adding more defense and scoring this offseason, the Maple Leafs look poised for a great year. But is it enough to win? David Alter of The Hockey News to Bodog about just that issue.

He touched on a variety of subjects including the Maple Leafs naming Auston Matthews captain, their offseason acquisitions and if it's enough for the team to make it over the hump.

"The Toronto Maple Leafs made a bit of an unthinkable change earlier this month when John Tavares handed over the captaincy that he had held for five season and handed it over to No.34. It's not that the player doesn't deserve the captaincy, he most certainly does. It's just a rare situation where you see a veteran like Tavares agree to be part of this process.

Typically, teams wait until that player is no longer with the club before making the switch, but it's clear that Tavares, who is an unrestricted free agent, wants to come back. So if the change was going to happen, now was the time and it was done with as little controversy as possible given the way the Leafs had handled it."

"But once you move away from that leadership switch, then comes the bigger message. The Leafs core is not changing, and they are essentially running it back for yet another season with the new captain, Tavares, William Nylander and Mitch Marner."

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It feels like more of the same this year for the Maple Leafs according to Alter, and if they want to succeed they are going to need consistent production from their Core Four. He also touched on whether or not the changes to the head coaching and mentality is a big enough leap forward.

"The two loudest voices in any locker room are arguably the head coach and the captain of the team. The Leafs have now changed that. In May, they brough in 2019 Stanley Cup-winning head coach Craig Berube just days after relieving Sheldon Keefe of his duties."

A new voice certainly would help smooth things along however it remains to be seen whether or not the new head coach can find synergy with his star players. Though with the changes made it looks like Alter believes that they can contend however, it feels like more of the same as fans keep saying "this is the year."

"If everything goes right, the Maple Leafs could contend for a Stanley Cup. But we've said that every year. It seems like they are due for a regression to the mean of some kind. It's highly unlikely they are going to have another first-round exit. They'll either buck the trend by going deep, or missing the dance altogether."

Let's hope for the sake of Leafs Nation they end up flipping the script and doing something magical.

Source: Bodog
David Alter: Are the Recent Leafs Changes Enough?

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