Toronto Maple Leafs: Unjustly Predicted For A Basement Finish
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the default punching bag for media members around the NHL. That’s just the way it is.
If there’s a slow news day, hit the Toronto Maple Leafs. Need to get some action on your twitter account because the team you cover isn’t playing, or isn’t playing well, hit the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Well, it’s October and USA Today put out their predictions for the season. Guess where they put the Leafs? Second worst in the league, with a two point increase from last season.
NHL point projections: How we see the 2016-17 season unfolding. https://t.co/oh4dfJu0OL pic.twitter.com/anlrjbTUug
— USA TODAY Sports (@USATODAYsports) October 4, 2016
Now, I’m not saying the Leafs are going to win their division, but let’s be honest here. A two point increase? Trolling at its best.
Let’s look at a couple key players’ missed games.
Tyler Bozak: 25 games missed.
James van Riemsdyk: 42 games missed.
Leo Komarov: 15 games missed.
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How about projected impact players who played little, or will make their debuts?
Auston Matthews: 0 games played.
William Nylander: 22 games played.
Mitch Marner: 0 games played.
Nikita Zaitsev: 0 games played.
What about goaltending? Before Frederik Andersen was picked up by the Toronto Maple Leafs he was generally seen around the league as a good goaltender. Drop him in the fishbowl and apparently he’s no good. Jhonas Enroth was perhaps the best backup in the league last year. Now that he’s in Toronto? Too small, no good.
Health alone to the three previously mentioned injured players will give the Toronto Maple Leafs more than the three points needed to exceed USA Today’s predictions.
If the Leafs somehow, beating all impossible odds, shock the universe and win three extra games for a six point increase over 2015-2016, they’ll surpass the USA Today expectations for Ottawa, Columbus and New Jersey. Good thing it’s impossible, right?
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be a playoff team but this roster is going to yield better results than last season. Health, better players and projected better goaltending. If they play the Mike Babcock system – which there are pretty good odds of them doing, considering he’s still the coach – they’re going to be better than people think.
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