ESPN Survey Has Leafs as the Best Team in Four Years

Earlier today, ESPN writer Emily Kaplan wrote an article that surveyed 53 scouts, players, coaches, and front-office executives about their opinions on the league where it currently stands, and where it will in four years.

While some people might care about the Penguins being the best team, or Connor McDavid being the best player in four years, there’s only one result that’s relevant. According to the survey, the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking like they’ll be the best team in four years.

It was close, as the Leafs only got 13 votes, but they beat out every other team. If this was a Canadian election, they’d have a minority win. The next closest team was Edmonton, who received 11 votes.

One coach described the Leafs chances, saying that “They’re not far off now, and with the young players they have, they’re going to be good for a very long time.”

It shouldn’t be too hard to defend why the Leafs could be the best team in four years. The team has the deepest offense in the league right now, and that might only get deeper in a few years when Kapanen, Grundstrom, Aaltonen, and possibly Bracco or Brooks develop in a few years, not to mention some of their prospects on defense, including Liljegren and Dermott, and their recently upgraded depth in net with Pickard in the system. Things are looking bright in a few years (and right now), and the league is starting to notice.

The other teams that got votes were the Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, and Pittsburgh Penguins. All in all, a good sign for Canadian hockey teams.

The Leafs also got some coverage in a couple other places as well. Auston Matthews received four votes as the best player in four years, and the team as a whole got a vote as the best team right now.