Slow starts, injuries among issues preventing the Leafs from becoming elite
TORONTO — Defence, slow starts and injuries are some of issues that have challenged the Toronto Maple Leafs in their quest to become an elite team.
Through 41 games the Leafs (23-16-2) sit comfortably in third place in the Atlantic Division, nine points ahead of the Florida Panthers. That would be considered a good position for Toronto in previous seasons.
But expectations for this season rose significantly after the Leafs’ breakout 2016-17 campaign in which they qualified for the post-season for the first time in four years. They went out and acquired veterans — including signing 38-year-old forward Patrick Marleau to a three-year, US$18.75 million contract — to help support a young nucleus which features superstar centre Auston Matthews and talented wingers Mitch Marner and William Nylander.
Heading into the second half of the season, however, Toronto is still short of its goal of being an elite contender for a Stanley Cup. A 2-0 loss Tuesday to league-leading Tampa Bay and a recent 6-3 road loss to the Western Conference-leading Vegas Golden Knights showed the Leafs aren’t at the same level as the NHL’s best.