Maple Leafs Tap Ex-Panthers to Gain Mental Edge in Stanley Cup Round 2

Apr 2, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95) congratulate goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) after a win against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs will leverage the experience of former Stanley Cup champions Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz, and Anthony Stolarz when the club opens their second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers on Monday.

All three players departed the club just days after their South Florida parade celebrating hockey's most coveted prize. Their insight could be valuable to a club looking to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2002.

Florida's success over the last two seasons saw them play twice in the Stanley Cup Final.

"They're just consistent. They buy into that system. They have a lot of top-end skill, a lot of depth, good defending, good goaltending. But they don't play like individuals," Lorentz explained. "I know they've had some struggles this year. They kind of had some ups and downs. It's tough when you play until June every year. It's obviously such a grind. But, you know, I do tip my cap at them that they're still in the position they're in because I think they've done a great job top to bottom."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has brought a similar structure to the Leafs this season, focused on winning battles, blocking shots, and protecting the interior of the ice. And while he understands that having three players who came from a championship team a year prior could provide a bit of an advantage, there's only one thing he was interested in learning about the opposing group.

"I've had discussions with them. There are things you might not know," Berube said. "(It's) more mindset stuff for me with those guys, being in a locker room and being around the organization and the team."

The Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in six games to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second time in three years. Now the Leafs will face off against proven playoff performers like Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett.

The Leafs were heavily favored against the Sens. Even though it was a hard-fought series, Toronto is expecting a tougher task ahead.

"Obviously we're going to talk about a game plan and things like that, but it basically really is going to boil down to five guys working to help out against their forecheck and getting numbers in there and battling pucks out," Berube said. "That's what it really boils down to. "You can talk all these X's and O's you want. And yes, there's things that we're going to do to try to nullify their forecheck. But in the end, they're going to forcheck, and they're going to get there. So you've got to battle it out, and you've got to have numbers in there, and you've got to work together. It's going to be a grind."