Ex-NHL HC advises Maple Leafs to be cautious against rested, healthy “juggernaut” Panthers in potential first-round playoff collision
Former NHL head coach Bruce Boudreau has issued a cautionary note to the Toronto Maple Leafs regarding a potential first-round playoff matchup with the Florida Panthers. As of now, the Maple Leafs sit at the top of the Atlantic Division with 98 points, while the Panthers are in third place with 92 points, just ahead of the Ottawa Senators at 90 points. If the standings remain the same, Toronto would face Ottawa in the first round of the playoffs.
However, if the Senators manage to overtake Florida for third place, pushing the Panthers into a Wild Card position, Toronto would then face the defending Stanley Cup champions in the first round. Speaking on TSN’s That’s Hockey show, Boudreau discussed the possibility of the Maple Leafs facing the Panthers.
Boudreau emphasized that the Panthers are not intimidated by any opponent, regardless of their playoff seeding. He stated, “They’re the one team I think doesn’t care if they finish first, second, or third. They’re not afraid of any opponent, and when they’re healthy, they’re a pretty good juggernaut of a team.” He also pointed out that while several key players are currently injured, he believes they will return by the time the playoffs begin.
The list of injured players for Florida includes Aleksander Barkov (upper body), Sam Bennett (undisclosed), Sam Reinhart (undisclosed), Niko Sturm (upper body), Dmitry Kulikov (upper body), and Gus Forsling (undisclosed). Additionally, Matthew Tkachuk (LTIR/groin) and Aaron Ekblad (suspension) are also out.
Boudreau expressed concern about the Panthers, fully healthy and with many of their players well-rested, facing Toronto in the playoffs. He remarked, “So I would worry about playing the Stanley Cup champions, fully healthy, a lot of the players rested and coming back and playing in Toronto.” He emphasized that such a matchup would be a major challenge for the Leafs.
In their most recent meeting, the Leafs won 3-2 against the Panthers. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on Tuesday in Florida.
Bryan Hayes, a co-host on That’s Hockey, also discussed the potential first-round matchup between the Maple Leafs and the Senators. Hayes noted that the biggest challenge for Toronto would be their mental state as the “prohibitive favorite” in the series. He drew comparisons to the 2021 playoffs when the Leafs were also the favorites against Montreal, a series that did not go in their favor.
Hayes pointed out that with star players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, the Leafs will now face high expectations. Historically, Toronto’s playoff teams have often been seen as underdogs or evenly matched, but this year, they will be expected to dominate the Senators. The added pressure of the Leafs’ lack of recent playoff success means the team will have to live up to the expectations surrounding them.
