As the NHL calendar flips into February, the Toronto Maple Leafs are staring down a tough road. Sitting six points behind the Boston Bruins with 25 games left on the schedule, the Leafs are on the outside looking in-and the clock is ticking. The Olympic break has offered a brief pause, but when the season resumes, Toronto will need to string together wins in a hurry if they want to stay in the chase for the Stanley Cup.
Former NHL forward Anthony Stewart joined Leafs Morning Take this week and offered his take on where things stand for the Leafs. Despite the uphill climb, Stewart sees signs of life-particularly from the team’s recent road trip-that suggest Toronto isn’t out of this yet.
“I think it’s going to come down to the wire,” Stewart said. “The number one thing last year was goaltending.
You had that 1A, 1B situation between Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, but that just hasn’t happened this season. The last couple of weeks, though, they’ve started to find their rhythm again.
If you get that level of goaltending from Stolarz and Woll like we’ve seen recently, they’ve got a shot.”
Goaltending has been a question mark all season for Toronto, and it’s no secret that consistency in the crease can make or break a playoff push. The recent uptick in form from both Stolarz and Woll could be exactly what the Leafs need to stabilize down the stretch.
Meanwhile, forward Bobby McMann continues to be a name swirling in trade rumors. With the Leafs hovering just outside the playoff picture and the March 6 deadline approaching, McMann-who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent-could be on the move. A trade freeze remains in place until February 22 at 11:59 p.m., giving GM Brad Treliving a narrow window to make a decision.
Stewart believes the Leafs’ front office may look for marginal tweaks rather than a blockbuster.
“I think Treliving is going to toe the line and make some minor adjustments,” Stewart said. “When you look at this roster, what are they really missing?
You’re missing that $5 million winger who can skate the length of the ice and put the puck in the net. If I’m Treliving, I’m finding a way to sign McMann.”
Toronto’s top-end talent isn’t in question. Auston Matthews is doing Auston Matthews things, and William Nylander continues to shine.
But the issue, as it’s been all season, is depth. The supporting cast hasn’t consistently delivered, and that’s a problem when you're trying to build around elite talent.
“You’ve already got two superstars,” Stewart said. “Now you’ve got to build around them.
But you need to be better with the guys you bring in. You need playoff guys-players who bring that heavy, grinding style of hockey and who you can count on night in and night out.”
The challenge ahead is steep. As of Thursday morning, the Leafs’ playoff odds sat at just 9.6%, according to moneypuck.com. That’s not a death sentence, but it’s far from comfortable.
Still, Stewart isn’t ready to count this group out just yet.
“I’m going to say yes, one of these teams is going to fall,” he said when asked if the Leafs could still make the playoffs. “I think it’s going to come down to the wire, and if they miss out, it’s going to be by one or two points.”
So here we are: 25 games to go, a playoff spot just out of reach, and a roster that’s shown flashes of what it could be-if the goaltending holds, if the depth steps up, and if the front office can make the right moves before the deadline. The margin for error is razor-thin, but the door’s not closed yet.
Toronto’s season is far from over. But if they want to keep their playoff streak alive, it’s time to start playing like it.