Fifty-five years. That’s how long it’s been since the Toronto Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup. Lyndon Johnson was President Of The United States, and Lester B. Pearson was the Prime Minister of Canada. The Beatles had just released “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, in May of 1967.

So, yeah, it’s been a long time since the Maple Leafs last laid claim to the Cup. It’s the longest current drought of any team in the NHL. Is this the year the Cup comes back to Toronto?

Well, first of all, the Stanley Cup resides most of the year in Toronto, in the Hockey Hall of Fame. As to whether the Maple Leafs will actually house it, just in time for legal sports betting in Canada? Well, maybe.

With Ontario sports betting now live in the province as of Monday morning - let’s take a look at the Leafs’ chances, from an NHL futures perspective.

Toronto Maple Leafs Futures Odds

Odds via DraftKings and accurate as of publication.

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Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Odds & Predictions

There is no question the Toronto Maple Leafs do have a real shot at the next Stanley Cup. At last check, the Leafs were +1200 to win it at most betting sites. Not the favorites for sure, but among the top six.

Toronto has some of the best offensive players in the league, led by Hart Trophy candidate Auston Matthews. Mitch Marner is a top scorer too, and there are some other superbly-gifted offensive players upfront.

The nagging doubt still on the Maple Leafs is this: Will the defense and goaltending be good enough for a long playoff run? The Maple Leafs have not made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2013.

In the Matthews Era, the Leafs have lost in the first round the past five seasons. The Leafs have a better defense than last season, and goalie Jack Campbell has shown himself to be a capable No. 1 guy. But neither he nor anyone else in the Toronto core has proven anything yet in their playoff careers. In fact, their history has been one of shocking disappointment in the first round.

Those questions about their playoff-readiness won’t go away until they actually, you know, win something.

Will The Leafs Win The Cup?

One of the main things I thought Toronto needed to do to greatly improve their Stanley Cup chances was win the Atlantic Division. But that’s almost certainly not going to happen now.

Toronto is close to double figures behind in points to Florida to win the division, and time is running out on the regular season.

Toronto entered early April in second place, behind Florida but statistically ahead of Tampa Bay. Those two teams have a big game Monday night. Because of the NHL’s unique first-round playoff formula, if Toronto finishes seciond, the Leafs would play the No.3 team in the Atlantic, which would almost certainly be either the Lightning or Boston, and Toronto would have home-ice advantage.

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That would give them a much better chance to at least get that first-round bugaboo off their backs and move on with more confidence in the playoffs.

I think this team can win it all, but Toronto still lapses against mediocre teams too often. For instance, Toronto lost a 5-1 decision to a bad Buffalo squad on March 2. A win would have put them in a tie for first with Tampa Bay, but the Leafs let the easy two points get away.

That’s why I’m not advocating a big futures wager on Toronto winning the Cup for any NHL betting fans who may be considering it. Go ahead and put some short money on them maybe, but stay away from anything big.

Because, by the numbers and by the evidence from the season so far, the Maple Leafs still aren’t ready to break their 55-year Cup curse.

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