Matthew Tkachuk, the Florida Panthers forward, recently stated that, in his opinion, the Toronto Maple Leafs had the best year of all the teams left in the NHL Playoffs. You could argue Tkachuk's comments as the Oilers finished with 109 points and the leafs finished with 111 points.
It is worth noting that Tkachuk's comments could also be fueled by his well-known hatred for the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers, who finished second in the Pacific Division, also had a strong regular season, with three players finishing with over 100 points. Despite this, Tkachuk's animosity towards the Oilers, which stems from his time playing for the Flames, may have clouded his judgment regarding their performance.
The Battle of Alberta, a long-standing rivalry between the Flames and the Oilers, is one of the most intense rivalries in hockey. Tkachuk's comments only add fuel to the fire and have sparked heated discussions among fans on social media. Regardless of his motives, Tkachuk's statement shows that the competition in the North Division was tight and that every team had their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, it was the Maple Leafs who emerged as the top team in the division and secured a spot in the playoffs.
