Habs vs Maple Leafs: Who Will Be the Kings of the North?

The 2021 setup of the NHL has made it a fascinating addition to the record books, with completely isolated divisions heating up rivalries. The North Division, stacked with every team in Canada, has been incredible, even the Ottawa Senators have surprised the division leaders.

Coming into the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs looked to be the best-equipped team on paper in the North. That said, there was enough about the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Calgary Flames to cause plenty of debate.

About a quarter of the way into the shortened campaign, there are two clear candidates for the novel divisional crown. The Habs and the Maple Leafs continue to prove themselves to be top-class teams but in very different ways. Sure, the Oilers continue to lurk around, but their all-offence, suspect defence approach makes one question the promise of a consistent run of success.

So, many are asking, will it be the Canadiens or the Maple Leafs to take the North Division crown?

What are the experts saying?

When looking to use a mix of the fan consensus and expert projections to predict the likelihood of an outcome, the best place to go is the bookmakers. In the NHL odds at Royal Panda, there are only two true contenders for the North Division: the Habs and Buds. With the Jets out at 11.00, Flames at 13.00, and Oilers at 15.00, Toronto and Montreal are the clear favourites.

A single win could sway the odds in favour of either team, but as it stands, the oddsmaker has the Maple Leafs as the narrow favourite at 2.05. However, with the Canadiens at 2.35, it’s clear that the experts and bettors aren’t fully sold on the ability of Toronto to claim the division.

A testament to the strength of the competition in the North Division, as well as the increased rivalries in the avid Canadian fan zone, the division’s top teams are very much in the mix for the Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay Lightning have been very strong and deservedly lead at 7.50. Still, the Buds are joint-third favourites at 9.00, and the Habs are a nudge back at 11.00, making them both top contenders.

The Maple Leafs are narrow favourites over the Canadiens for the division and the Cup, which is almost certainly a product of Toronto currently being ahead by four points in the standings.

Will it be the Canadiens or the Maple Leafs?

The Habs and the Buds present two different team builds at either end of the spectrum, and yet both are proving to be very successful. The Canadiens weigh-in with a deep team that can contend in every situation of the game, as detailed by Montreal forward Paul Byron.

There are some true superstars in the lines, such as Carey Price in the crease and Shea Weber on the blueline, but the overall composition is that of a solid unit. The setup is somewhat reminiscent of that inaugural Vegas Golden Knights team that soared to the Stanley Cup Finals, with Marc-Andre Fleury classed as a league star entering the season.

Toronto, on the other hand, is stacked with elite-tier players, including Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and perhaps even Frederik Andersen. Furthermore, they play as though to flex their ability, finding a great deal of success and the fourth-most goals per game in the league through possession-based play, as noted by Sportsnet.

Montreal’s 52 goals in 15 games marked 3.47 goals per game, which is eighth in the league. The Habs’ offensive style is normally one of puck possession but early in the season it was about capitalizing off the rush. The transition game has been essential for the Habs, with pressure applied to create turnovers, with speedy breakaways ensuing.

Seemingly knowing that the Habs and Buds would be the top contenders, the Montreal-Toronto games have been sprinkled around the schedule, with only one two-game series coming before the final ten days of the season. Then, it’s the Canadiens versus the Maple Leafs for four of the last seven games.

The race to the top of the North Division looks to be closely contested, with the contrasting styles and ever-increasing rivalry only making for even more thrilling match-ups as we approach the end of the campaign.