The rest of Canada might not be willing to admit it just yet, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are legit.
And, despite losing the last 14 games to their bitter rival, the Montreal Canadiens, the Leafs are a team on the rise, while the Habs are struggling just to put the puck in the net more than once per game.
Although, that wasn't always the case.
Only a few short years ago, the Leafs' roster looked like a shell of its future self. Sure, the Canadiens have undergone their fair share of roster changeover, but their cornerstone pieces remain mostly the same (minus, of course, that Subban guy).
Simply put, Montreal has dominated Toronto over the past three-plus seasons. And, after you have a look at the Leafs' roster - both then and now - the team's transformation from pretenders to contenders becomes evident.
Take a peek at the Leafs' lineup from the last time they bested the Canadiens, a 5-3 victory Jan. 18, 2014:
| Player (Position) | Current Team |
|---|---|
| Carter Ashton (F) | Tolyatti Lada (KHL) |
| Troy Bodie (F) | UFA |
| Phil Kessel (F) | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Nikolai Kulemin (F) | New York Islanders |
| Jay McClement (F) | UFA |
| Peter Holland (F) | Montreal Canadiens |
| Tyler Bozak (F) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| James van Riemsdyk (F) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Mason Raymond (F) | Bern SC (Swiss League) |
| Colton Orr (F) | Retired |
| Nazem Kadri (F) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Joffrey Lupul (F) | Toronto Maple Leafs (LTIR) |
| Dion Phaneuf (D) | Ottawa Senators |
| Carl Gunnarsson (D) | St. Louis Blues |
| Tim Gleason (D) | UFA |
| Jake Gardiner (D) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Cody Franson (D) | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Morgan Rielly (D) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Jonathan Bernier (G) | Colorado Avalanche |
(Lineup courtesy: Hockey Reference)
Fast forward to today, with the Buds and Habs set to meet for the first time this season, and you have two very different-looking teams than the ones that faced off almost four years ago.
No disrespect to guys like Tim Gleason, Carter Ashton, and Mason Raymond, but Toronto's roster shakeup has sprinkled elite talent up and down the lineup.
A lot of that has to do with a revamped front-office staff and Brendan Shanahan's commitment to building from within. Of course, a handful of draft picks in the top 10 is bound to improve any club.
The progression made by No. 1 overall pick Auston Matthews, No. 4 overall Mitch Marner, and No. 8 overall William Nylander over the past two years have the Maple Leafs primed to leave their rival from La Belle Province in the dust for the first time in a long time.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Especially considering the Canadiens sit last in goals scored with four, while the high-flying Leafs are second in the NHL with 22. Mind you, Toronto is far from a perfect team, and has struggled in its own end, sitting tied for the third-most goals against at 16.
Four years of dominance compared to four games of high-scoring contests hardly seems like enough to deem the Leafs the next Cup champs.
However, when you compare the talent levels of these two bitter opponents, it's clear to see that the tide is turning in Toronto's favor. With a totally different lineup and fresh approach, the Leafs have transformed themselves from the hunted to the hunters.
It's still early, and the Canadiens have plenty of time to figure it out. But expect the lengthy losing streak to be snapped, much sooner than later.
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