Joined: Feb. 2017
Posts: 441
Likes: 78
Here's Toronto's problem:
They don't have a number one defenseman. Trying to win the Stanley Cup without one is bucking the odds in a BIG way.
Also, they are overpaying Tavares and Marner collectively by about 6 million, which means that if they somehow luck their way into a chance to acquire said defenseman, they are going to have move a significant portion of cap space to get him. And IMO, if they move Nylander to do it, they get weaker.
They didn't just run into a great opponent in Tampa. The Bolts did not look good in this series and gave Toronto ample opportunity to take control of the series. And it wasn't their goaltending, either. Campbell did his job. The Leafs just aren't good enough.
They could just sit and wait for a more favourable opponent. But in that conference, good luck with that.