The Toronto Maple Leafs final gained the Stanley Cup in 1967. That was 58 years in the past, making it the longest championship drought within the NHL in the mean time.
For context, the common worth of gasoline was $0.33 per gallon in the USA, whereas the most popular single was “To Sir with Love” by Lulu. The Beatles had been nonetheless collectively and Lyndon B. Johnson was President.
That 12 months, the Maple Leafs gained the Cup within the league’s ultimate season as an Authentic Six league. The NHL had agreed to double the dimensions of the league, including six new groups for the 1967-68 season: The Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Oakland Seals, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues.
Since that enlargement, the Leafs have by no means been again to the Stanley Cup Last. The staff had traditionally dangerous seasons whereas coming shut a couple of occasions to creating it again. However apparently sufficient, the final time the Leafs gained the Cup, the Boston Bruins and Detroit Pink Wings didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
Underneath the pre-expansion guidelines, there have been solely two rounds. Within the first spherical, the Leafs defeated the Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens bounced the New York Rangers. That arrange a Leafs-Canadiens ultimate for the Cup. The Leafs gained the sequence 4-2.
The victory was Toronto’s thirteenth within the pre-expansion period and can be the final time. Contemplating that this season, each the Boston Bruins and Detroit Pink Wings didn’t make the playoffs in the identical season for the primary time since 1967, may historical past repeat itself?
There’s an excellent probability it may. With Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner main the way in which, the Leafs have pretty much as good an opportunity as they’ve ever had.
Wanting on the Toronto Maple Leafs path to the Stanley Cup
The final time the Maple Leafs gained the cup, there have been solely two rounds of playoffs. This time round, the Leafs might want to get previous 4 rounds to win the 2025 NHL playoffs.
The Leafs’ first-round opponent appears to be like to be the Ottawa Senators. The Sens swept the season sequence this 12 months, however Toronto has been traditionally profitable in opposition to the Senators within the postseason.
Assuming the Leafs get previous the Senators, they’ll meet the winner of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers first-round sequence. Each golf equipment are glorious and can have among the best matchups within the Jap Convention. It’s onerous to select a winner so let’s give the nod to the defending Stanley Cup champions.
That scenario would arrange a Leafs-Panthers second-round sequence. The Panthers bounced the Leafs in 5 video games in 2023 after Toronto beat the Lightning within the first spherical that 12 months. However once more, let’s assume the Leafs get out of the second spherical, that will put them within the Convention Last for the primary time since 2002.
Within the Convention Last, the Leafs would face the winner of the Metro Division bracket. Contemplating the Washington Capitals are the Metro’s greatest staff this season, the Leafs may run into the NHL’s all-time main goal-scorer within the Jap Convention Last.
If the Leafs handle to get to the Stanley Cup Last, it’s anybody’s guess who may make it out of the Western Convention aspect of the bracket. The West’s consultant may characteristic a staff just like the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, or Edmonton Oilers.
In the end, the Maple Leafs’ path to the Stanley Cup might be a lot tougher than it was in 1967. Nevertheless it looks like this 12 months’s Leafs iteration may have the staff’s greatest probability ever to carry dwelling its 14th Stanley Cup.