Ex-NHLer Identifies a Very Real Problem for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1 Series With Ottawa

When the Leafs secured a 4-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday evening, they officially locked up top spot in the Atlantic Division and set up a 1st round matchup against the Ottawa Senators in what might very well be the premier 1st round matchup in the NHL.

We officially know when when the Leafs and Senators will play Games 1 and 2, but what we don't know is how it's going to go, considering the fact that the Senators had their number all season long.

This week, former NHLer Mike Rupp took to the NHL Network where he declared that the Leafs have a real problem ahead of them, and his name is Brady Tkachuk.

Rupp went on to suggest that Tkachuk is a star player who will both see a lot of ice time and create havoc for the Leafs' top players on a nightly basis. He also pointed out that since Tkachuk isn't likely to be in the lineup against any of the Leafs' primary roughnecks, he might be a real thorn in the Leafs' sides. Here's the clip of Rupper's concerns:

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies are the ones who are most likely to share the ice with Tkachuk in this serious and nobody, with the exception of maybe the sophomore Matthew Knies, is any real threat to someone like Tkachuk. Even then, Tkachuk is a way more established fighter than Knies, who isn't really known for dropping the gloves.

Granted, the playoffs bring about a different brand of hockey, and sometimes a switch can flip for players in the post-season, but even if guys stand up for themselves and potentially even challenge Tkachuk, there's certainly going to be a bit of a mis-match, largely because the only one who can really stand up to Tkachuk and be respected is Ryan Reaves.

However, Reaves, who is still currently with the Toronto Marlies, is not guaranteed to play, and even if he does get into a game, there's not really going to be an opportunity for him to get on the ice against the Senators' top players -- Brady Tkachuk included -- to be able to get his hands on him.

Time will tell how the Leafs will address the problem, but make no mistake about it; Tkachuk does pose a problem. It's up to Craig Berube and the players in the Leafs' locker room to determine how they address it.