January 1st playoff odds are bad look for the Maple Leafs

This season was meant to be another big one for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but unfortunately, they've struggled early in the year, posting a record of 18-15-6 as they sit in seventh place in the hotly contested Atlantic Division.

Given this start, the speculation has begun over this team, with recent reports suggesting friction between Auston Matthews and the organization, and the further they drift from playoff contention, the louder that chatter becomes.

With the arrival of the New Year, MoneyPuck.com have revealed their latest playoff odds, and while there's many intriguing things to look at, the odds on the Maple Leafs are perhaps the most exciting for their haters and worrying for their fans.

According to their chart, the Maple Leafs have just a 14.1% chance of making the post-season this year, worst not only in the Atlantic Division but the Eastern Conference as a whole, as their play has not inspired much confidence this season.

With the injuries to key players, the struggles in net and the overall vibe in Toronto, it's clear that things aren't looking good for this organization, and with very few assets to work from, there's no major way to shake things up and turn the tide this year.

Ultimately though, if the Maple Leafs do fall short, it will call for some sweeping changes to the organization over the summer, and while there's still a chance they can turn things around, as of right now, there's very little reason for optimism within the fanbase.