Panthers forward Brad Marchand

Photo credit: Fox News

The Toronto Maple Leafs may be struggling right now, but their longtime nemesis Brad Marchand of the divisional foe Florida Panthers believes that they’re still very much in the mix to make the playoffs in the spring.

There isn’t a whole lot going right for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are in second to last place in the Atlantic Division.

Right now, the Maple Leafs would not qualify for the postseason if it were to begin today for what would be the first time since 2016.

But don’t tell that to their longtime nemesis Brad Marchand, who is now with the Florida Panthers after having played several years with the Boston Bruins.

If you think that your playoff dreams are done 25 games in, you have bigger problems. I know they don’t think that in the room. It’s just, obviously, with the media attention and the fan support they have in Toronto, things get blown way out of proportion up there.

What are they, four points out of a playoff spot? If people are thinking they’re out of a playoff spot for the season, they gotta find a new job. -Brad Marchand

Marchand and the Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the ECSF in the spring. For Marchand, it was the fifth time in his career that he’d come out on top over the Maple Leafs in a Game 7.

The Maple Leafs Have Struggled In The First Quarter Of This Season

There’s been a natural adjustment period for the Maple Leafs, who are playing in their first year without Mitch Marner after he was sent to the Vegas Golden Knights in a massive sign and trade deal over the summer.

But there have been multiple injuries that have hampered them, and even when fully healthy, they’ve not been able to stay consistent.

If the season were to end today, they’d miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016, which was ironically the last time they didn’t have Auston Matthews, who was taken with the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

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