Brad Marchand may be right, but the Leafs can’t be lulled into a false sense of security

“I mean, what are we, after 25 games? If you think your playoff dreams are over after 25 games, you have bigger problems,” Marchand said Monday. “I know they don’t think that in the room. With the media attention and the support from the fans in Toronto, things are blown out of proportion up there. They definitely don’t think that in the room. What are they? Four points short of a playoff spot? If people think they’re out of a playoff spot this season, they need to find a new job.”

There are two simple truths: Marchand is right about the Maple Leafs’ chances, and if you were to take him at face value, he subscribes to the glass-half-full theory. It’s clear that Marchand is keeping an eye on the Leafs, and while he’s firmly squared away as one of the franchise’s all-time villains, the 37-year-old can appreciate the team’s true talent level.

“It should be a good one,” Marchand said. “The most important thing is that the points are huge at the moment. You can’t cancel a game. We have to play the right way again for 60 minutes.”

This isn’t the pull quote, nor will it generate national attention, but it speaks to Marchand’s mentality. The points are indeed huge at the moment, both for the defending champion Panthers and the talented but underperforming Maple Leafs. Toronto is coming off its most comprehensive win of the season, a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It received contributions from both depth players and stars, along with a great performance in net from Dennis Hildeby. If you’re optimistic about the Leafs, there were several things the team can take into Tuesday’s game, but they can’t be lulled into a false sense of security by a future Hall of Fame forward who might be even better at winning the psychological battles.