As Leafs GM Brad Treliving searches for some depth down the middle amid all of the injuries to the forward group, the Leafs are currently first in the Atlantic Division and 7-1 without Auston Matthews.
Matthews is expected to return this week, but the club will still be without five veteran forwards. However, the Leafs have bought into new head coach Craig Berube's system and a more competitive style of play, one that former Predators GM David Poile believes will guide them to an extended playoff run.
The recently inducted Hockey Hall of Famer joined 'Leafs Morning Take' on Monday and was asked about the current version of the Leafs. The 74-year-old credited Berube and long-time members of the Leafs' roster for how the season has started and revealed that he thinks the Leafs have a very good opportunity ahead of them in the playoffs.
Although Poile himself never won the elusive Stanley Cup, he managed to guide the Nashville Predators to the Cup Final in 2017, where they fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Beginning his career in NHL management during the 1977-78 season, Poile has seen just about everything during his five-decade run, and there may not be a person more qualified to provide insight into the potential that this current iteration of the Maple Leafs has.
Unfortunately, potential is all it is until the team gets over the hump, which is essentially what Berube was brought in to do.
The 2019 Stanley Cup winning coach will look to guide the blue and white on their longest playoff run since the 2002 Conference Finals. Let's hope he and the team are up to the task.
POLL | ||
26 NOVEMBRE | 2781 ANSWERS Ex-NHL general manager and Hall of Famer has some interesting thoughts on the Maple Leafs How far will the Leafs go in the playoffs this season? | ||
First round exit | 366 | 13.2 % |
Second round | 751 | 27 % |
Conference Finals | 1083 | 38.9 % |
All the way | 581 | 20.9 % |
List of polls |