So, things have started to get crazy around the NHL, largely thanks to the expansion draft process. And my sense is we will look back on these next two weeks as a time period that helped shape the Maple Leafs for years to come.



Whether that’s for better or worse… well, we’ll see.



The Leafs took a helluva jump last year, from dead last to 95 points and a playoff spot. It was one of the biggest single-season point increases — 26 — in recent NHL history and one of the biggest in franchise history, too.



But, in some ways, that was the easy part. The Leafs were both unlucky and bad in 2015-16, and a bounce back was always coming, especially with the fact they were going to push three extremely talented, high picks (first, fourth and eighth overall) into the lineup up front and add a legit No. 1 netminder.



Better luck. Better players. A better goalie. A stable roster. A great coach. They were going to improve by 15 points or...