Former NHLer Anthony Stewart still believes in Maple Leafs as season hits Olympic break

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in an unfamiliar position as the National Hockey League rolls on with February. Currently six points back of the Boston Bruins with 25 games to play, the Maple Leafs are going to need to start accumulating wins when the NHL season resumes from the Olympic break if they want to find themselves in the hunt for Lord Stanley. 

On Thursday, former NHL player Anthony Stewart joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss the current state of the Maple Leafs. While still facing an uphill battle, Stewart believes that the signs shown during the recent road trip could be an indicator of more success to come. 

“I think it’s going to come down to the wire,” Stewart said. “I think the number one thing was goaltending last year, you had a 1A, 1B situation between Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, but that just hasn’t happened. The last couple weeks, they’ve started to get in there and get their rhythm back. If you get the goaltending you got from Stolarz and Woll these last couple games, they’re going to have a chance.” 

Bobby McMann has found himself continuously in the trade rumours these past few weeks, as the deadline approaches and the Maple Leafs sit on the outside of the playoffs looking in, McMann’s time in Toronto could be coming to an end. With a trade freeze in effect until 11:59 p.m. on February 22, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving will have just under two weeks to decide what to do the pending unrestricted free agent before the deadline hits on March 6. 

“I think Treliving is going to toe the line and make some minor adjustments,” Stewart said. “If you look at this roster, what are they missing? You’re missing that $5 million winger that can go up and down the ice and put the puck in the net. So if I’m Treliving, I’m finding a way to sign McMann.”

The Maple Leafs have the top-end players in place, with captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander, but much has been made of the lack of supporting cast built around the two this season. 

“You break it down to rebuild around superstars. You have two of those guys already. I think you need to build around them, but you’ve got to be better with the guys you bring in,” Stewart said. “You need guys to get you through the playoffs, that play that heavy style of hockey, and you know exactly what you are going to get.” 

As of Thursday morning, moneypuck.com listed the Maple Leafs’ playoff odds at 9.6%, far from an easy task of reaching the playoffs for a 10th straight season. Stewart, though, has belief in this year’s group that a run can still be put together when asked if he thought they could make the playoffs.

“I’m going to say yes, one of these teams are going to fall,” Stewart said. “I think it’s going to come down to the wire, and if they miss out, it’s going to be by one or two points.”

You can watch the full interview below: