The Toronto Maple Leafs opened as the second betting favorite to win the 2023 Stanley Cup at +900 (Odds via Fanduel Sportsbook). Only one team is ahead of them, the Colorado Avalanche. To say this makes no sense is a total understatement. It’s beyond baffling for their odds to be this short, and it is just as confusing as to why anyone would wager on them to hoist the cup.
Look, no one is debating how talented Toronto is. But this roster has also proven to be nothing more than an above average regular season team. And even then, they haven’t been good enough to win the Atlantic Division let alone compete for an NHL championship.
For them to be the second betting favorite to win the 2023 Stanley Cup is just absurd. Those odds are more delusional than the goalie Mats Sundin drove crazy in those old Nike hockey commercials.
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Why the Toronto Maple Leafs shouldn’t be second betting favorite to win the 2023 Stanley Cup?
We at The Touchback don’t believe past performances should factor heavily into sports betting decisions. Just because the same occurrence has happened previously doesn’t mean it will happen again. You should look at everything in the here and now. However, there are exceptions to that rule.
And the Maple Leafs are one of those exceptions. It is impossible to ignore how their core has failed to win a single postseason series in six tries. Something to note, the franchise’s 17-season streak of not winning a series isn’t relevant here. Nor is the decades-long Stanley Cup drought. You can’t pin that on the current roster.
But Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander have had six cracks at winning a series and failed. Hell, John Tavares has been on board for four of those playoff disasters. Why will 2023 be different?
There is no real answer to that question. The Toronto Maple Leafs are second betting favorite to win 2023 Stanley Cup for… *shoulder shrug* reasons. Although what those are remain a mystery. The side still has roster holes with no means to fix them. Hell, Felix Potvin in his prime wouldn’t change their fortunes. There is also some clear mental issue with this team in the playoffs that is causing them to choke.
At the end of the day, I get why sportsbooks placed Toronto’s odds at +900 and installed them as the second favorite to win it all. Their myopic fanbase will put money on them regardless so Vegas wanted to set a line that is enticing while still covering their asses. From a hockey betting perspective, that doesn’t make it any less silly.
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