As the professional hockey season gets underway once again, many fans have already begun speculating how the famous rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs is set to play out. What do the experts have to say? Why are the Maple Leafs favourited at this point? While it is impossible to draw any firm conclusions, we should still take a closer look at a handful of potential variables.

A Rivalry with a Long Track Record

It is first wise to point out that the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs have been passionate rivals since the 1921-1922 season. It is therefore no surprise that their face-offs represent some of the highest-grossing competitions in the entire league. While there is little doubt that both have their eyes on the distant horizon, it is equally logical to assume that they will be paying a particular amount of attention to how their perennial counterparts perform. The big question involves whether or not either will be able to make it as far as the Eastern Conference Finals and therefore, the Stanley Cup.

Expert Opinions Matter

To be clear, current NHL futures and odds seem to be firmly favour the Maple Leafs. What are some of the reasons why the Canadiens should be worried?

One variable involves GM Brad Treliving. A significant amount of roster changes have already occurred during his watch and the most prominent include the addition of Maxi Domi; a player who offers a bit of much-needed versatility to the Maple Leafs’ lineup. Let’s also not fail to mention that Dylan Gambrell has been signed to a one-year contract; a relatively young forward with promising potential.

While new players are always welcome additions, the Maple Leafs possess plenty of prowess on the ice thanks in no small part to their existing roster. Some names to watch include Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Auston Matthews. Many analysts will be keeping a close eye on Matthews, as has proven to be one of the most potent scorers in the past.

What About the Canadiens?

While the notion of walking away with the Stanley Cup may be slim, the Canadiens will nonetheless pull out all of the stops along the way. Let us also remember that they were riddled with injuries during the 2022-2023 season and this inevitably impacted their performance on the ice. If the Canadiens are able to solidify their presence and remain healthy, they could very well represent a formidable foe. This is even more relevant considering the fact that an injury-free defence combined with a strong forward thanks to the presence of players such as Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield could spell real trouble for the Eastern Conference as a whole.

While the odds seem to lean towards the Maple Leafs at the moment, the NHL has delivered some of the most surprising upsets in the history of ice hockey. It would therefore be foolish to write off the Canadiens without seeing how the season pans out.