The Toronto Maple Leafs. You hear it every year how the Leafs are going to be good and make a push for the playoffs. Yet the reality is this rarely happens and the team has remained on the outside looking in since prior to the NHL lockout. The last year the Leafs made the playoffs was way back in 2003-04. Brian Burke was brought in to be the GM in November of 2008 and he told fans that he was not planning a long rebuild, but instead intended to build a winning team right away. Three seasons have come and gone and the Maple Leafs have never looked like a serious playoff contender. Could this be the year for the storied franchise to regain some respect?
I am not a Maple Leafs supporter so when I say this it should bring more weight. This is the first year that all of those Maple Leafs fanatics might be right. The Leafs could have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. The defencemen are pretty solid, with Phaneuf and Schenn leading the way, while Liles, Franson and Aulie should step in to be contributors. On forward Grabovski, Kulemin and MacArthur will be together again and should continue to produce, while Tim Connolly will be the first legitimate centreman that Kessel has played with. I personally am not sold on Kessel and don’t believe he can be the key ingredient in a winning team, but this year with Connolly time will tell. The depth on the team isn’t horrible either so thus far the Maple Leafs look to be a pretty average team. The one missing ingredient could be in goal, where they were brutal last season until Reimer stepped up late. Can he do it again? It will be interesting to see the Toronto Maple Leafs betting lines throughout the season. I think they will be an inconsistent team that can play well from time to time, so I will likely be ready to bet on the Maple Leafs when they are big dogs. Check out the NHL picks daily to see which way I lean with regards to the Leafs throughout the season.
Best Sportsbook to Bet On The Toronto Maple Leafs
Our top rated NHL sportsbook is 5Dimes.com. This reputable and trustworthy sports betting site almost always offers the best odds on NHL games and accepts players from around the world. The extra money you can earn with the 5Dimes NHL odds will add up over the season. Visit www.5Dimes.com now to bet on the Maple Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Betting Odds – Updated September 27th, 2011
The Toronto Maple Leafs odds to win the Stanley Cup are listed at +6500 at 5Dimes.com. This means that a $100 bet would win $6500 for a total payout of $6600, if the impossible happened and the Leafs went all the way. The odds at 5Dimes.com are much better than our other top sportsbooks, with Bodog.eu offering +5000 and Sportsbook.com +4000.
Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Prediction
The line is pretty long, but it can’t ever be long enough. The Maple Leafs just don’t have the personnel to be a top contender in the league. They may make the playoffs, but they would squeak into 8th and not have the ability to compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference, let alone the Western Conference champion. Save your money and bet on the Chicago Blackhawks. If you must though, make sure you bet on the Maple Leafs at www.5Dimes.com to get the best odds.
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