We’re now just six games away from this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, and in accordance, the fanbase is running amuck with speculation and anxiety about who the Toronto Maple Leafs may face in the first round.

Now with a four-point lead in the division and riding a four-game heater, Toronto’s first Atlantic title is looking within their grasp. One week ago, it looked all but certain that whoever topped the division would play the Ottawa Senators, who held the first wild card spot by a decent margin, but trailed third place in the division. But now, as the Senators continue to string together wins, and the Panthers unable to do so in their last five, Ottawa sits just two points back from Florida, opening up the question of who Toronto may face if they lock down the division.

In a segment on NHL on TNT Sunday, Paul Bissonnette put on a tinfoil hat and jokingly started the conspiracy that the Panthers are actively tanking in order to face Toronto in the first round, referencing the large number of healthy scratches on their roster as the reigning Cup champs continue to drop games.

At TheLeafsNation, our very own video personalities have begun to ask these questions themselves, with Zack Phillips joking on TLN After Dark that facing the Panthers first round after all of this would be “the most Leafy situtation ever.” Leafs Morning Take host Nick Alberga added on, tweeting “The Toronto tank job..” Sunday when Florida announced their roster ahead of their 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, with top talent being rested.

It’s understandable why Toronto fans are not keen on seeing the Maple Leafs face the Panthers in the first round. Who can forget the fateful chants of “We want Florida” two years ago before the Leafs lost to the Panthers in the second round? Not to mention that with the Bruins finally out of the playoff picture for the first time in almost a decade, the Leafs are somehow still destined to be tormented by Brad Marchand who was traded to the Cats at the deadline this season. The physicality and skill the Panthers have brought recently in the playoffs is definitely not something you dream of facing right from the get-go.

But tuck away all that anxiety, those bad memories, and records from any season but this one, and you begin to see that playing the Panthers in the first round may not be the worst thing after all.

Let’s start with the obvious. If you want to win the Stanley Cup, you need to be ready to beat the best. Whether it’s in the first or the last round, you’re bound to face the Panthers, or worse, whatever team bests them first and is riding that momentum. Looking at Florida right now, there’s a number of reasons facing them in the first round is probably preferable.

Florida will not be kicking off their Cup defence at full strength. Aaron Ekblad was suspended in March for a Performance Enhancing Substance violation, and will miss the first two games of the opening round. Matthew Tkachuk has been out since February 8th with an upper-body injury, and is still questionable for game one of the playoffs. Even if he gets the start, he’ll likely need time to get back into game form. Sergei Bobrovsky now has three losses in a row, with eight goals allowed against three Atlantic opponents, not inspiring a lot of confidence for a team as hot and cold as the Panthers. Add to that Toronto’s big 3-2 victory over Florida last week, and the momentum is all on the Leafs’ side.

On the contrary, while many fans were looking forward to the Battle of Ontario in round one, the Senators are exactly the team you don’t want to play right now. Currently on a three-game win streak with only one-goal conceded across that stretch, their offence is clicking, defence looks tight, and goaltender Linus Ullmark is playing some of his best hockey of the year. Unbeaten by the Leafs in their last five contests, making their first playoff appearance since 2017, and riding the high of some big wins, it’s equally possible Ottawa would pose more trouble for the Leafs than the Panthers at this point.

Under Craig Berube’s leadership this season, a new Leafs team has appeared. One that’s more physical, more aggressive, and stronger in the face of adversity. A lot can still happen in the final ten days of the regular season, but with Toronto’s roster looking the healthiest they have all year and firing on all cylinders, what better time for a revenge series against Florida than right now?