April 8th was an upsetting result for the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the Florida Panthers on two fronts. Not only did they drop two crucial points in the race for the Atlantic Division title, but they also lost three of four games to the Panthers on the season.
I guess there was one positive takeaway. The conspiracy theory of the Panthers dropping games to fall into the first wildcard spot to play the Maple Leafs in the first round of the NHL Playoffs was put to bed.
In reality, it was a one-goal game in which nobody necessarily played great, aside from Joseph Woll, who made 34 saves on 36 shots. Other than that, it was a game that Maple Leafs are never going to speak of again. They were outplayed in every facet of the game. From winning puck battles and getting good scoring opportunities to exiting their own zone and getting past the Panthers’ forecheck, it just wasn’t there for the Maple Leafs. In what felt like a playoff game where there was no space on the ice, Auston Matthews. Mitch Marner and William Nylander combined for one shot on the night, leading fans to wonder if this is what it will look like for this team if the Core Four is being shut down during the playoffs.
Just one week ago, everything was going as planned in Leafs Nation, including beating the same but different Panthers during a four-game win streak in which the Atlantic Division looked locked up for the Maple Leafs. April 8th was a different game, though. Instead of facing the Panthers’ injury-riddled team like the Maple Leafs did the week before, they got served a dish of Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart.
Even though, and understandably so, Maple Leafs fans might be scared to face the Panthers in either the first or potential second round – as they seem to be the one team the Maple Leafs just can’t get over the hump with – I don’t think you should be, and here’s why.
This year’s team is actually different for the Maple Leafs
Every year, it seems that we say that the Toronto Maple Leafs are a different team and they will get it done in the playoffs, only to lose in the first round every season but one. Well, I have news for you: This team is actually different, and fans should feel that way heading into a potential playoff series against the Florida Panthers. The main reason is the man behind the bench, Craig Berube.
Berube was the guy everyone wanted from the moment Sheldon Keefe was let go last spring after yet another disappointing postseason exit for this team. Mainly because of his track record, coaching the St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup in 2019. Even though it’s only Berube’s first year with the team, we’ve seen a totally different way the Toronto Maple Leafs play hockey, and for the most part, nobody can argue with the results to this point.
We’ve seen some of the old habits that led to a lot of people not believing in the group to get the done job snapped this season under Berube.
The team is deeper than ever before
The 2025 Maple Leafs roster will be looked back at as one of the best rosters they’ve ever had, in my opinion. Not only looking at the additions they made in free agency last summer and at the trade deadline this past March, but getting an extra year of experience for guys like Bobby McMann and Matthew Knies, who have stepped up in a big way, is something that has gone unnoticed. In 2023, when they lost to the Panthers in the second round, they didn’t have what felt like a complete team. Instead, they had a great forward group with a lot of stars that normally didn’t play the roles they were being asked to fill during that time. From the forward group to goaltending, the team just didn’t gel the way they are right now, partly to do with personnel and coaching.
Not only are they deeper than ever before, but they’re also right there with the Panthers. When looking at the back end compared to the Panthers, the Maple Leafs could have the better top six when healthy and thriving, something they could never say in years past. The same goes for the bottom six guys like Scott Laughton, Max Domi, Max Pacioretty and Stanley Cup Champion Steven Lorentz. Compared to the Panthers having Nico Sturm and Evan Rodrigues to fill out the bottom of their roster, it would start to show in a seven-game series, in my opinion.
Top-end talent
In a matchup against the Florida Panthers, the top-end talent alone should make Maple Leafs fans not scared about facing them. Auston Matthews has been healthy and performing since the 4 Nations Face-Off with 10 goals and 29 points in 23 games, while Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander might have stepped up even more since that mark as well. Compared to the top end talent for the Panthers, who don’t get me wrong are great but have all been dealing with injury including Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand and not to mention Matthew Tkachuk who still hasn’t played since the 4 Nations final back in February and might not even be ready for the round one of the playoffs.
Yes, it would be a hard series for the Maple Leafs and their fans as the Panthers are the defending Stanley Cup Champions for a reason, but I don’t think anyone should be any more nervous about facing them than any other team with this version of the Maple Leafs.
