The Toronto Maple Leafs final received the Stanley Cup in 1967. That was 58 years in the past, making it the longest championship drought within the NHL in the meanwhile.
For context, the common worth of gasoline was $0.33 per gallon in the US, 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 received the Cup within the league’s ultimate season as an Unique 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 growth, the Leafs have by no means been again to the Stanley Cup Last. The staff had traditionally unhealthy seasons whereas coming shut just a few instances to creating it again. However curiously sufficient, the final time the Leafs received the Cup, the Boston Bruins and Detroit Purple 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 received the collection 4-2.
The victory was Toronto’s thirteenth within the pre-expansion period and could be the final time. Contemplating that this season, each the Boston Bruins and Detroit Purple Wings did not make the playoffs in the identical season for the primary time since 1967, might historical past repeat itself?
There’s a superb likelihood it might. With Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner main the best way, the Leafs have nearly as good an opportunity as they’ve ever had.
Trying on the Toronto Maple Leafs path to the Stanley Cup
The final time the Maple Leafs received 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 collection 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 collection. Each golf equipment are wonderful and can have probably the greatest matchups within the Japanese Convention. It’s arduous to select a winner so let’s give the nod to the defending Stanley Cup champions.
That state of affairs would arrange a Leafs-Panthers second-round collection. 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 may 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 finest staff this season, the Leafs might run into the NHL’s all-time main goal-scorer within the Japanese Convention Last.
If the Leafs handle to get to the Stanley Cup Last, it’s anybody’s guess who might make it out of the Western Convention facet of the bracket. The West’s consultant might 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 more durable than it was in 1967. However it looks like this 12 months’s Leafs iteration might have the staff’s finest likelihood ever to deliver house its 14th Stanley Cup.
