Florida Panthers Vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Wins this Series?(2025 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions)

Florida Panthers Vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Wins this Series?(2025 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions)

[Music] What’s up, guys? Welcome to another playoff prediction video. We’re going to be talking about the Florida Panthers versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. So, the defending Stanley Cup champions do it again. They take out Tampa convincingly in five games. They win the series 4-1. very disappointed on how Tampa conducted themselves. I know they lost Hegel to injury and he also got a a oneame suspension that didn’t really help but the game that he did miss they won. Um Basilleski was god awful. Cucharov had a hard time offensively. Um they were a big disappointment and a lot of people were questioning you know John Cooper you know how long um should he stay with Tampa? Is it long overdue? Do they need a new coach? And the answer is no. John Cooper is a fantastic coach. He’s done fantastic things with Tampa, even when they weren’t the greatest on paper. And you know, Jay Gensel this year had a fantastic season and a fantastic playoff run with Tampa, but not so much the other players. You know, Mcdana did a good job offensively, too. I thought he really stepped up. But some of their key players like Celli um in particular, he was a completely he was a complete ghost, you know, and I know Hedman was playing with a broken leg. So, you know, you know, that’s what it takes to win, you know, to play through injuries. But, you know, I think that affected them to a certain degree, but having your top players not perform. And having Florida get reinforcements in Matthew Kachchuck, Aaron Eggblad, you know, that really helped them a lot, you know, and just looking at this team on paper, they have so much depth. You know, you could say that their fourth line’s not that great, but man, they have arguably the three best or most even three lines uh in the playoffs right now out of all the teams. So, you know, it’s fantastic. And adding Ste Jones the deadline is another fantastic addition to their team. And um yeah, you know, then Toronto on their end finally again for the second time in what 3 years now or four years that they um that they they they get over the hump again and they passed the first round. We thought they were going to blow a three-0 lead versus Ottawa. Ottawa was waking up and you know, it could have gone either way because this is a series that went to overtime three times and Toronto won two games in OT and ultimately that’s what what won them the season. uh won the series, sorry. Um they were able to show that they were not going to choke under pressure. And I think having Craig Bub as their coach, a guy who’s won a Stanley Cup, who’s dealt with adversity in the past, you know, had I was coaching a St. Louis team that was like dead last and won the cup that same year in 2019, right? Yes. Yeah. So, you know, um you know, they have a good guy behind that bench and uh I think Brad Trev Tre Living is a fantastic GM and these are hard-nosed guys that take that know what it takes to to go deep in the playoffs and have good playoff teams and heavy teams and have good scoring depth. And I think that finally, not only did Toronto’s top guys produce Tavaris, Mner, Knander, and Matthews, the core four, but they got guys like Max Doi scoring the overtime winning goal. They had Benois, a defenseman who’s not known for doing stuff offensively, scoring the other OT winning goal. Max Pateretti breaking the 2-2 tie and scoring the game-winning goal in game six, you know, like and that was his first playoff goal since 2021 when he was playing for the Vegas Golden Knights. So, you know, a lot of good things happened for the Toronto Maples. Scott Scott Scott Lton finally showed that he was the Scott Lton that was with the Philadelphia Flyers. You know, he had a hard time adjusting uh with the Toronto Maples, but it showed that he had a good series. Everybody offensively did a fantastic job. Matthew Ny, the first couple games he did very well, too. And even defensively, I think that having Chris Tanv is a huge boost. Yeah. For the Toronto Maple Leafs and that was key for them. Brandon Carlo, you know, I still think he’s still a disappointment and what they gave up for him was way too much. But, you know, having Mabe and Carlo who are big, sturdy guys, Benoa, that’s fantastic. Tanv, who eats pucks, that helps you in the playoffs. Morgan Riley stepped up offensively. Oliver Ecman Larson stepped up offensively. He had two goals. But the main guy, the MVP in my opinion was Anthony. This guy continues to prove that he’s a starting goalender in the NHL, literally stealing Joseph Wool’s spot when we all thought he was going to be the starter. And he’s been fantastic. I just thought that some Maple Leafs fans were losing their mind after one loss, saying that we have to get rid of Stolarts and put wall. We lost the game. He didn’t have a great game. Guys, come on. You’re up 31. Like, Stwarts has been fantastic in the regular season and in the playoffs and you’re freaking out. I know you guys are known for choking 3-1 leads and you guys are not, you know, known for winning the first round matchup most of the time, but you got to give the guy a chance. You can’t panic right away. And because Bube did not panic and he stuck to his guts and he kept the same lineup, he just shifted some players on on the uh in terms of like which line they’re going to be playing on. It worked out, you know, and I think this is arguably I wouldn’t say the best team on paper for Toronto, but the the best defensive structure they’ve had for a Toronto team. I’m seeing them play better defense. I’m seeing them play more composed. They’re not freaking out. They have a sturdy goalender that they can rely on. They have steady defenseman. Um, this is a team that’s built for the playoffs, whereas other teams that they’ve had in the past weren’t necessarily built for the playoffs. They were built for just the season. And I think this is why it’s going to be a very long series. I think this is going to be a seven game series between Florida and tomorrow. Yeah. Well, I mean, I definitely agree and and I think, you know, let’s let’s talk about Florida first because they’ve just been so impressive. Um, you know, the way they handle Tampa and the fact that they made it so easy against Tampa, I think is is really really impressive. And you look at their roster and you look at just how they’re built, right? Their top nine is just one of the best top nines probably in the league in terms of just offense, right, from from everybody. And you know, being able to get, let’s say, playoff guys, but also just being able to get production from everybody, I think is is a huge thing for them. And then even on defense, just being able to get guys that are, you know, being able to show up at the right moments. You know, Nate Schmidt, what a series he had against Tampa, right? Scoring big goals in big moments, right, for for a guy like Aaron Ecklad who wasn’t stepping up and obviously was suspended. We’re going to get to Aaron Ecklad. Um, right. And like you know just the fact that I think even offensively right seeing that line of Lin and uh you know Anton Lindell and Brad Marsha the the way they played against Tampa in that round one series and how physical they were and how you know demanding they were and how you know aggressive they were just in terms of winning puck backs and creating scoring chances and just being difference makers. Like Florida has it all from top to bottom. And I just I’ve been so impressed with how they they managed to beat Tampa in five. Like I thought it was going to be a seven game series between Tampa and and Montreal. And so uh Tampa and Florida. So, the fact that um it ended up being a fivegame series and it looked like Florida like didn’t really like phase Tampa at all, I think is is really scary if you’re the Toronto Maple Leafs because that that I think is a message that they’re sending like look, we still got it, guys. Like, we’re still we’re the cup champs of last year for a reason. But I will say one thing though, there’s something different about Toronto this year. And again again I know right they did it last year they got through Tampa and then they lost to Florida but to me like this series I think is is is really important for Toronto and the reason I say that is it’s like you mentioned before they’re better defensively now they’ve got a goalender and Anthony Stolars that has stood on his head and been a differencemaker right they’ve added players that were on that Florida team last year that experienced the cup final win. Steven Lorent, uh, Oliver Ecman Larson and obviously Anthony Stolars, even though he was the backup and so Toronto this year and even with with Craig Bubet, there’s just something different like even in the game against uh even in the series against Ottawa, right? Like they went up three nothing and it like looked like they were going to sweep them and then Ottawa wins game four and Ottawa wins game five and everyone talks about oh the the Leafs are going to leaf again, right? And I thought they did a really good job in game six. I thought they did a really good job of, you know, being able to maintain that game and being able to, you know, not let the pressure get to them. And the reason I say that is look, they were up two nothing in that game. They ended up blowing the two nothing uh two nothing lead and ultimately ended up winning the game through a Max Prietti goal, basically scoring the game winner and then Neander adding a fourth to make it 4-2. And I thought that that was really impressive. And the reason I thought that was really impressive is because we haven’t seen that from Leaf’s teams in the past, right? Under Keith last year, I I think if if Toronto was in this position last year where they would have lost the, you know, game four and game five and then they would have blown that two nothing lead in in game six, I think they would have lost that game and probably lost the series. I agree. I think under uh Bub, the fact that they didn’t is is a huge thing for them. And and the reason I say that is you’ve seen the maturity grow in this team that they like you said they look calmer. They didn’t look phased, right? And their top guys were their top guys. Mitch Martner had eight points. William Milander had nine points. Austin Matthews, you know, finished the the playoffs with with, you know, two goals and and five po five assists for seven points. John had five and six points. Matthew Ny, although he only had three points and three goals, right, he was a big difference maker for them. So, the top guys were the top guys for the Leafs, and they got the goalending when they needed to get the goalending, and they ended up winning that series. The difference in this series between Toronto and Florida is going to be the depth. And Toronto’s got good depth. I think they’re built for the playoffs. I think they’re built to go on a deep, deep run. But you look at Florida and you look at that top nine and you look at how well that that top nine has played and the fact that even though right Toronto’s looks so good like you look at Florida and like like there it feels like there’s still like there’s still another gear that they can go to and that’s the scary part about about Florida is that it kind of just feels like we’ve haven’t seen anything yet, right? And it’s like just the beginning. Whereas with Toronto, it’s kind of hard to tell because I think they played really well against Ottawa. I think they looked really good and I think they’re going to give Florida seven game series like they have in the past couple of years. Although last year they lost in five, right? But I I just it’s hard to tell how this series is going to go because I think I think Toronto is a better team than they were last year. I think they’ve shown that they’re a better team than last year and I think they’re going to give Florida a much harder time than they did last year. But I just I don’t know. I with with how good Florida has been and with how good they’re built and with just everything that they’ve done, I just I’m not sure it’s going to be enough for Toronto to beat them. But, and I’ll get to Aaron Ecklad now. Aaron Ecklad hasn’t helped Florida in any way, shape, or form in these playoffs. And he’s been a really big disappointment. I know he played two games, he scored a goal. I understand all that stuff. Whatever. He’s been suspended twice now. He got suspended for 20 games and he missed the first two games of of round one and now he’s missing the first game of round two because he got suspended for two games for that dirty hit on Brandon Hegel because Aaron Neckl’s an idiot and decided to be a dumbass starting February. I don’t know why missing one game this series at least. Yeah, I know. But I’m saying like Iron Necklad decided to be a dumbass from the beginning of February. I don’t know what got into him, but he just decided I’m going to be stupid. So anyways, the point that I’m trying to make is it it’s impressive how well Florida has done without much reliance on Aaron Ecklad. And that has been something to really look into because one of the arguments that we made, me and Zach, when we did the the the Tampa, Florida video was we weren’t sure what you were going to get out of Matthew Kachchuck because we weren’t sure if he was going to be a hunter. He was fantastic, right? And we weren’t sure how much of a difference it was going to make not having Aaron Ecklland in the lineup because we saw the difference when Florida had Eblad in the lineup versus when they didn’t. But man oh man like Matt Kach came back and looked like like the best version of himself that we’ve seen in a long time. So, I’m going to look, I’m going to say this and I’m going based on gut and it’s like I said in the Washington and Carolina video and I’m going to say it again in this one. My logic is telling me Florida, my gut is telling me Toronto’s going to do it. And the reason I’m saying that is because I think Craig Bub has Toronto playing playoff style hockey. And I think that it’s one of those situations where we talk about Toronto um getting over the hump. And it’s I’ll give you an example. It’s like doing it’s like the Washington and Pittsburgh series, right? Washington played Pittsburgh and every single year Pittsburgh beat them and then eventually Washington beat Pittsburgh and they won the cup. And I’m not suggesting the Leafs are going to win the cup. That’s not going to happen. Well, I don’t think that that’s that’s going to happen, but I do think that the winner of this series goes to the cup final. And I do think that Toronto gets over the hump over Florida. And the reason I say that is look at like game six of that series. And I know Florida dominated Tampa and that was impressive and it was great and it was fantastic, but Florida won the cup last year. So, anything Florida does right now is all bonus, right? Like nothing impresses me about Florida anymore because they won the cup last year. Like they’re they’re fantastic. Like I’m I’m going to have nothing but nice things to say about Florida. The way Toronto won that game six and and the difference that they went to beat Ottawa in game six, I think goes a long way. And I know people are saying, “Oh my god, you’re judging it based on one performance in game six.” Yes and no. it. Toronto last year had Toronto over the last couple years have had a lot of trouble being able to win the games in overtime, being able to win the games that were close, being able to be the team that ends up, you know, putting themselves in a position to score that big goal and that big moment. And I thought against Ottawa they did that. I thought against Ottawa they were the better team in every single game apart from I thought game four and game five I thought Ottawa played a little bit better but I thought in the wins that they had they were the better team and I thought in game six they were the better team and I think that if Toronto can continue that and they can continue to be solid defensively this series I think is going to be theirs and again I could be completely wrong. I just my my logic is telling me Florida’s too good for them and they’re gonna win and they’re gonna uh too they’re gonna repeat. My gut is telling me that for some reason I just feel like Toronto is going to get over the hump. So, I’m going to say Toronto in seventh because that’s the prediction that I’m going to put out there. But Florida could very very well beat Toronto. I say that wouldn’t surprise me. You know, we always see how close matchups are going to be. And I know we have the Caps versus Carolina series either being six or seven games based off our predictions just based off of go based off of goending, right? You know, Freddy Anderson versus Thompson. But this is another matchup where you have two of the top five goalies in the playoffs versus each other, Babroski and Stalard. All the best goalies are all in the east. Whereas in the west, some of them have been very disappointing, which we’ll get into in other videos, but these are the two best matchups in terms of goalending, and I think that will carry on. And not to take away from Stolet or Bosski, but for auto is very disappointing for most of the series, and so was Vasileleski for the Tampa Bay Lightning. So, they faced two goalies who’ve really struggled. The question is who’s going to out goalie who in this series, right? Is Stoolartz going to break? Is Bravoski going to go back to his inconsistent form? Because we know that Babroski is either the best goalie in the world or he’s trash and he’s having a hard time. But playoff Babroski these last three years has been the best goalie in my opinion. We went to finals twice with him and now he’s he’s showing again that he’s very good. be stable in the playoffs. So, you know, I think he’s going to continue to be stable, but will Toronto be able to keep up with a team of experience, a team that has three solid lines that could score, right? Their weakness is their fourth line, and it showed in the the matchup versus Tampa. They allowed uh you know, they were the line that was in the negatives. They didn’t really they didn’t contribute basically anything offensively. And um I think Toronto’s fourth line matches up better. You know, you um Scott Lton being a fourth line uh you know player for Toronto versus let’s say Florida’s fourth line where you have AJ Greer for example, Bogfist and um what’s the other guy that they have on the fourth line? No sack, I think. Is it Nok? Am I right? No. Stern, sorry. um you know if I think they’re going to Florida’s really going to have to be careful in how they match up those two uh that line versus Toronto’s fourth line because I think they’re going to struggle in my opinion. So I think you know they’re going to have to make some changes in that fourth line. But those fir those first three lines when you have Brad Marshaw on your third line you know you’re going deep in the playoffs and you have three pests right you have Sam Bennett Matthew Kachchuck and Brad Marshaw Toronto I know I might catch some heat for this but they don’t really have a pest up front offensively maxi I might yeah you might say Max Doy but I’m sorry but Brad Marshaw is kicking Domy’s ass kicking domy’s ass and even Bennett is kicking Doiy’s ass, right? Bennett, like Doi, like he he wants to be a tough guy, but he’s not always able to, you know, assert his dominance was what I’m trying to say. But offensively, he did very well. And yes, you could see Scott Lton is a sandpaper guy, but in this case, like all those three guys I named are able to throw the their body. That’s why they’re it’s the Rat Pack versus the Core Four, right? and the Rat Pack is going to rattle the [ __ ] out of Toronto and Toronto’s just going to have to stick to their game and not get affected by that. But I think that I think that that’s also a difference of and again I agree I agree with everything you’re saying. I think a lot of that though was on Keefe last year and the reason I say that is under Bub Toronto I feel like you can’t really poke them. And the reason I say that is Bub was a a tough player when he was playing in the NHL. And I feel like he’s instilled that toughness in Toronto where it’s like don’t take [ __ ] from anybody, right? And like for the first time even in the Ottawa series, you saw Matthews getting in scrums, you saw N getting in scrums, you saw Neander getting in scrums, right? You saw like the Leafs. I think I think one of the biggest things that Bubet did was he prevented the Leafs from getting rattled in round one against Ottawa. And I know Florida’s a different beast. I get it. But if he if Toronto, like you say, can remain calm and just play their game, I think they have a really good shot because I think Florida, like you said, the game plan is going to be rattle them, rattle them, rattle them, rattle them, rattle them. Because if you rattle Toronto, they’re going to make mistakes. But if Toronto stays calm and just plays their game, it could be a tough a tough thing for Florida. So, we’ll see. So, in terms of forwards, I have to say that it’s even uh for both teams just based off like if I didn’t see guys like Doi and Lawrence and Lton step up their game in the first round, Max Patcheri, right? If they didn’t step up their their game, that would have gone to Florida. But because everyone is able to contribute except for one player offensively versus um Ottawa in six games, that shows me that finally everything’s clicking. So I have to give it to them. And obviously for Florida because they have one very weak line, but because they’re super good in line one, two, and three, and line three could be a second line on another NHL team. Hence, hence why um I say it’s even because Florida’s third line is better than Toronto’s third line, but because they have that weak fourth line, that’s why it balances out. And I I still think I still think Florida’s better offense all around. Okay. I think you take you take Florida’s top nine and you compare it to Toronto’s top nine, I think Florida wins in terms of just Yeah, but that’s saying like top nine. Yeah, we’re talking about Yeah, but even I’m looking at it from cuz fourth lines are fourth line. Like I think even completely I would still take Florida’s for I would personally take Florida’s forward core but I think Florida’s got better offense. I think Toronto’s got better defense and I think right now Toronto’s got better goalending. Well, if I’m also including the season, yeah, which was Florida, but you know, playoffs is a different beast. And based off what I’ve seen, um, you know, that’s why I have it as even. In terms of defense, getting Aaron Egg Black bat is obviously going to help, right? But he can’t be an idiot this time. Okay, it’s two suspensions now. Caught for doping. Says that he didn’t know that he he took the wrong um medication or whatever it was. Bunch of [ __ ] Okay. Whatever you he get he didn’t get it medically cleared. That’s when you know that you’re in [ __ ] And second of all, that hit on Hegel. He’s lucky. He’s lucky he didn’t get more, right? and he can do that versus Toronto. Lay the hits, get in their heads, but don’t get suspended. Don’t be stupid because he is very good defensively and he’s shown that he’s good offensively this year. Probably because of the dope, but whatever. But again, Gustaf Forsling, apart from Jacob Slavven, they are the two best defensive defenseman, not only in the playoffs, but probably in the league. Okay? They always have fantastic plus and min uh plus minuses. They’re able to contribute offensively, but not to the point where it’s like they’re gonna get like over 40 points, right? But they’re just sturdy, reliable defenseman that are good, complimentary guys on a first pairing role. And Seth Jones being there, like he was fantastic versus Tampa. I know we always give him [ __ ] because of his contract and we seen that he’s a liability, whatever, but versus Tampa, he was great, right? Vicola, very good, sturdy, hard-nosed defenseman. Kulakov, you know, I know he was a journeyman, but really found this place these last couple years with Florida. Nate Schmidt, well, usually he’s known for, you know, his offensiveness, right? And he showed that again, but he was sturdy as well uh in the first round matchup. And then obviously Bal, I can’t even pronounce his name. Binkis Balancis. Yeah, whatever. you know, he’s just there whatever, you know, like he’s not going to be a a needle mover. And then you look at Toronto where, you know, I was questioning their defense a little bit this season because I’m like, if you remove Morgan Riley out of the equation, who’s going to contribute offensively? And Oliver Ecman Larson stepped up, but Brandon Carlo is going to have to be better defensively and offensively. He’s not being the Carlo that I’ve seen in past years at Boston. I know he was not that great with Boston this season, too, but you know, that’s cut him some sl some slack. The team wasn’t good at all, but since joining Toronto, he hasn’t really impressed me, especially for for a team that’s given up Frasier Mitten for him in a first round pick. Jake McCabe is fantastic. Chris Tanv, I have no complaints. You want this guy on your back end to block shots, especially in the playoffs. That block that block in game, was it I think it was game five or game six? I forgot. There was one game that he made a crazy block and I was like, “Wow.” Like that’s the that’s the the type it was like a game- saving block and I was like, “Bro, like that’s the type of uh of like Dman that you need.” Like he’s just he’s exactly what the Leafs need. And and I found that Toronto struggled mightily defensively because Morgan Riley had a very poor season up until the second half or the later end of of the of the season where he started finding, you know, rhythm to his game again, finding that offensiveness. And he was able to showcase that in the first round versus Ottawa. You know, he he got some points and but obvious obviously having Oliver Ekin Larson helps. But, you know, Simon Benois, what an underrated defenseman this guy is. Like, he’s a guy that was with the Ducks. He was a guy that didn’t look like he was going to make the NHL roster. Always in and out of the lineup. And he really found a place on Toronto since last year. And I thought he’s progressively gotten better. He’s a big guy, lays a lot of hits, he blocks, and he’s shown that he’s able to contribute offensively, too. And I think all around this is Toronto’s best defensive uh lineup that they’ve had, like I said, but even on their back end. But Morgan Riley is going to have to carry the weight offensively. And I know Ivan Oel is also good offensively, but we all know that Morgan Riley is always going to be the top dog in the back end. But, you know, when you look at their power play, it shows that they’ve lost trust offensively in Morgan Riley where you’re going with five guys on the power play, which you’ve they’ve done for majority of the season, right? And I don’t blame them because you have the core four plus Matthew N, right? Like you can’t have, you know, if you really want to go all out on the power play, that’s what you’re going to have to do. And that absolutely destroyed Ottawa in the first round. Their power play always took advantage of every single opportunity and they always scored. They were so good on the power play. I think for maybe uh game four was the only time that they didn’t really do anything um on the power play. But apart from that, they every penalty that Ottawa got, they would score. They would score. They would score. This is like I was watching all that series and Toronto really really impressed me and I know that Ottawa gave them a fight but we al also have to take into consideration that Brady Kachchuck was not 100% and did not play the role of a pest like he normally does. And I know like other guys like Ridley Greg tried doing that but you can never be Brady Kachchuck. And I think now that you have three pests on Florida and they they they’ve built careers for being pests, but also being good offensively and they’re all healthy. Well, Matthew Kachchuck, to a certain degree, like this is going to cause Florida problems. And I know they were slowly getting scared and breaking and they lost two games in a row, but they were still fairly close games in my opinion. And you know, I wasn’t expecting Florida to sweep Ottawa. Ottawa has a very good team. They’ve they’ve gone through a lot of adversity in terms of injuries this year, but you know, all around Toronto was composed and they got everything they needed. But will this continue in the second round? We’ll see because last time these two teams faced off against each other. We thought it was going to be a seven game series, too. And if I’m not mistaken, Florida won in five games. Five games. Yeah. But I I think the the biggest I think the biggest question mark, too, is going to be like how I wonder how Stallize is going to do against his former team, right? I and the reason I say that is I think he’s going to be very motivated. I think he’s played really really well. Like Stler has been one of the best goalies in the league this year, right? If not, you can even argue to some extent like at one point he even was the best goalie in the league. Like he’s played really well this year. And I think Babsky’s had inconsistencies, but obviously Babski has that experience that I don’t think Stlars has. I’m very curious to see how he plays against Florida in in in this series, right? Because they both know each other’s game, too. But that’s what I’m saying, right? Want a Stanley Cup together last year. There’s a lot of there’s a lot of interesting, let’s say, situations that can happen in the series. I think it’s going to be very very fun to watch. I’m like I said, I’m gonna I’m gonna stick to the same prediction that I made earlier in the video. I think Toronto wins in seven, and that’s more of a gut feeling than an actual uh using logistical uh my my brain telling me, but my brain is obviously telling me the Florida might might is going to take it. I I just I don’t know. I think there’s something different about the Leaf Cir. think they’re going to find a way to do it. And I think that if they can get the same production that they got from Neander, Marner, Matthews, and and Tavaris in this series, and they can continue to be their best players, and I think Leafs can get a little bit more depth scoring, I think they can do it. I think I think Babski is the type of goalender that has he even though he’s done well at times and he’s been a really good goalender and he won a cup last year, I don’t think he’s been great this season in terms of just consistency. And I think if you can find a way to beat him and and rattle him, I think you can beat them in this series. So I I’m going to do that. But I I mean, at the end of the day, it’s going to be a fun series to watch. I can’t wait to watch Toronto, Florida. It’s always exciting. It’s always fun. And uh it two teams that don’t like each other. So it’s going to be it’s going to be the most exciting series in my opinion. I know these teams have faced each other in the past, but it was also exciting when they faced each other um the first time. Um, but I think it will be a lot more different since this is the best playoff team on paper that Toronto has had in my opinion. But there is no excuse for Toronto. They need to go win that cup this year because you have Tavaris that’s knocking on the door and Mitch Martner that’s knocking on the door and they’re asking for money. They’re asking for long-term contracts, too, right? Tavarus is probably going to want to retire at Toronto, but obviously I don’t know how much he’s willing to take in terms of a discount the state of Toronto because Toronto has problems with their salary cap. They’re always close to the cap and that’s what happens when you have when you’re paying your core for over $10 million each, right? So, and Mitch Mner, there’s been a lot of talk surrounding him potentially leaving or most likely leaving and going somewhere else where he could just be the guy, right? Because here it’s like is he the guy? Is it Matthews or is it Knander? I know they used I know Tavarus is part of that conversation but the older he got like Tavarus has taken a step back you know not only as uh you know in terms of his his impact but also as a leader like he stepped he took he stripped he stepped back and ga and uh and gave his C up to Matthews right so there’s also that to take into consideration but um you know I think there’s more of a likeliness of Tavarus staying and taking a discount than Mner is to stay So if they want to win with the depends on how far they go. That’s Yeah, that too. It just depends on how far they go. I think if I think if Toronto loses in round two, I don’t think Mitch Mner comes back. I I mean I think even if they win the cup, I don’t think Mitch Miner comes back. But that’s a whole different conversation for But this is if they want to win with the best offensive roster in terms of like the two lines that they have, their top six, now is the time to win it. And I know we see that every year. We see that every year, right? when they had Zack Heyman, when they had Nasim Cadri, when they always had these other guys, right? But like N is also going to be an RFA. And based off what we’re hearing and based off what we’ve seen, that Broberg Holloway offer sheet changed the game because look at the impact those two players have had for St. Louis. And now GMs are saying, “Holy crap, if we target an RFA, yeah, sure, we’re going to have to give up picks, but we have assets to burn. Who gives a [ __ ] We could get some great hockey quality hockey players. And I’m not saying that N is going to opt out and take the offer sheet, but when they throw money at you and they’re saying, I know you’re a complimentary piece on Toronto, but how about you’re going to be one of the top two guys on our team, that is very attractive for a player, right? So, money talks at the end at the end of the day, also in terms of responsibility, in terms of, you know, the the role that they’re given. So, those are three guys to watch out for in this off seasonason. But that’s why they’re going to have to win now. They can’t think of the offseason. They have to think about now. Every single game counts. They got to go get that cup this year. No excuses. I agree. I think I think uh just to echo to your point, like I think both teams have a lot of question marks coming into the offseason. I think Toronto has more than any of her, but I think a lot of it’s going to be dependent on what they do this season because at the end of the day, like if you don’t get past round two, you’re going to have to make tough decisions next year. And I think Toronto knows that their windows coming up. Not in the sense where their cup windows coming up, but like you know, they they don’t really have a young team. They have a little bit more of an older team now compared to to other teams in the playoffs. And right, you if you lose Mitch Mner in free agency, it’s going to be very hard to replace a player like that, right? And it’s going to be very hard to be able to make that decision of like whether you’re keeping Tavaris Barner or NY. So at the end of the day, like it’s going to be a tough decision for the Leafs. I I think they’re going to worry about it when the when free agency comes along or when the offseason comes along, but I agree. I think for the Leafs this year, it’s cupper bust. And and fortunately, that’s the reality. I know that they’re playing Florida and it’s not easy, but it’s cup or bust for the Leafs. And for Florida, I think Bennett stays um and they opt out to let Egglad go. Why? Because the doping issue, because of, you know, the suspension that could have cost them. They’re he they’re being every game they’re being given another reason why they should keep Bennett over Egglad. I know Egglad maybe his stats are a little bit glorified this year compared to past seasons, but just the impact, the leadership, representing team Canada, that is all important. being a playoff performer, you know, that is very important and they need that second line center cuz after that they they’re probably going to have Anton Landell move up into the lineup. But I think if they want to continue to be competitive, they have to lock up Sam Bennett and I think he’s the type of guy that’s actually willing to take a discount to be on this team. this is a team that gave him a chance and helped him become the player that he was supposed to be on in the Calgary Flames whereas Calgary gave up on him and just shipped him to Florida and he really developed into a soft solid player. So I think Bennett stays in my opinion it’s Egglad that walks especially considering the fact that they got Seth Jones at the deadline. Eggblad, they could go get another two-way, you know, defenseman in the free agency or trade for one that’s going to cost less and that’s younger and that has less issues in terms of injuries and but I think I think for now I think for now in this series like I don’t think Florida’s really worried about the offseason. I think they’ll worry about that when the time comes. I think basically what both teams have to lose if they lose this series. Yeah, but it’s more like it’s more like like I think for Florida there’s less of an issue because I think they’ll they’ll be back here next year. For Toronto, I don’t know, right? Because Mitch Bar is going to be a tough qu like Toronto’s got more to lose than Florida in the sense where Florida’s already won a cup. So for them, like yeah, they’re going to want to repeat, but like if they don’t, it’s not really that big of a deal. where like for Toronto it’s like your windows kind of like it’s not at the end but it’s like it’s it’s fading. So it’s like you gotta like you got to win eventually or else you’re going to have to redo this again, right? And so it’s it’s not easy. It’s not fun. I think I think we’ll see. But for Toronto, like I said before, it’s compromise for them. If they they don’t get the cup, then it’s I wouldn’t say it’s a fail. I mean, if they go to a cup final, it’s it’s progress. But uh after what 10 years, come on. They need to win the cup. It’s cup or bust. Yeah, they got to win the cup. Okay. Well, anyways guys, thank you for watching this video. Uh, make sure to like this video, subscribe to our channel, write in the comment section who wins the series, how many games does it take, who’s going to be the X factor, who needs to be better um on both ends of the ice, and uh we’ll see you on the next episode of the Youngs Podcast. Thank you so much, guys, for watching and see you soon.

The Florida Panthers face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Florida beat Tampa Bay to advance, while Toronto got past Ottawa. Both teams have strong offense and solid goaltending, making this a close and exciting series.

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Welcome to The Young Guns Podcast! We’re just 3 friends talking about NHL prospects, news, rumours, trades, etc. Who knows maybe the occasional special guest will joins us.

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