NHL analyst makes shocking prediction, throwing shade at Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL analyst Bryan Hayes does not believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are Canada's best chance at a Stanley Cup this season.
The Maple Leafs have been at the top of the Atlantic Division for pretty much the entire season so far.
That being said, the Atlantic is not the strongest division in the league, and the Leafs still need to prove that they can be competitive in the playoffs.
As a result, NHL analyst Bryan Hayes has gone on the record stating that the Leafs are not particularly close to being Canada's best chance at breaking the Stanley Cup drought.
"I'm not giving them the benefit of the doubt. I would not put the Leafs ahead of either Edmonton or Winnipeg, I wouldn't because of their history. I'd have to consider their history. And yes, Winnipeg, you have to consider their history. But this year, they've been better than Toronto.
They've been the best team consistently all year. Winnipeg has been a juggernaut. Facts, I mean, based on points, based on just everything, top to bottom."
They've been the best team consistently all year. Winnipeg has been a juggernaut. Facts, I mean, based on points, based on just everything, top to bottom."
Instead, Hayes points to the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets as better alternatives.
Specifically, he credits the Jets for being the best team in the league this year.
Technically, that honor currently belongs to the Washington Capitals who can equal Winnipeg's 65 points, but with one fewer game played.
That being said, the Capitals do not have Connor Hellebuyck, who Hayes went on to praise as the best goaltender in the league, even giving him a shoutout as a possible Hart trophy contender.
"Hellebuyck has been the most dominant player in the league. Separate conversation with Hart and all that kind of stuff, but in terms of an impact you can have on a game, Connor Hellebuyck is No. 1"
Carey Price was the last goalie to win the award and that was a decade ago, but Hellebuyck has certainly put himself in that conversation this year with a 1.97 goals-against-average, a .929 save percentage, and 28 wins in 36 starts.
He currently leads the league in games played, wins, shots against, saves, save percentage, goals-against average, and shutouts.
His advanced analytics are just as good, basically making him look like the perfect goaltender, largely because he is.
This is the kind of player that can practically single-handedly win a team a Stanley Cup.
And yet, the Jets are only going to get better after the trade deadline as the team looks to boost their center depth.
So will the Jets outperform the Leafs when the playoffs come around? Right now, it looks like they will.
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