 Maple Leafs Don’t Need To Make a Big Trade Anymore
The Toronto Maple Leafs have emerged as one of the best teams in the NHL, currently enjoying a six-game winning streak.
The catalyst for this surge came unexpectedly when Morgan Rielly’s high-stick incident involving Ridley Grieg not only sidelined Rielly for five games due to suspension but also ignited a remarkable turnaround for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Despite initial concerns about the impact of Rielly’s absence on the defensive pairings, the Leafs showcased resilience and depth, going undefeated during his suspension and delivering a commanding 7-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights upon his return.
During Rielly’s absence, the defensive unit exceeded expectations, with each player stepping up to fill the gap. While individually, the defense may have appeared below-average, their collective effort proved pivotal in maintaining the team’s winning momentum. With Bobby McMann emerging as a surprising offensive force, contributing nine goals in 32 games as a rookie, the Leafs have discovered an unexpected asset that has bolstered their depth and transformed their lineup dynamics.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Have Found a Winning Recipe
The resurgence of McMann has alleviated concerns about the team’s depth, potentially rendering external acquisitions unnecessary.
The newfound chemistry among the players, particularly evident in the second-line combination of Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and William Nylander, has injected speed, skill, and grit into the lineup.
Although the decision to move captain John Tavares to the third-line may raise eyebrows, his veteran presence and offensive prowess have proven invaluable in anchoring the line alongside McMann and Nicholas Robertson.
With Tavares embracing his new role and Matthews, Knies, and Marner continuing to drive offensive production, the Leafs now boast three formidable lines featuring former or current 40-goal scorers. The strategic realignment has not only diversified the team’s scoring threats but also enhanced defensive stability, with Tavares’s defensive acumen complementing the offensive firepower of the third line.
Looking ahead, the Leafs appear poised to make a formidable playoff run, provided that players continue to embrace their roles and maintain team chemistry. Credit must be given to coach Sheldon Keefe for his adept handling of the lineup adjustments, which have revitalized the team’s performance and instilled confidence in its playoff prospects.
As the Leafs continue to gel and adapt, they have the potential to emerge as a formidable force capable of challenging any opponent in the postseason. I’ve had a lot of bad things to say about this team thus far, but that narrative may be changing, as I have loved what I’ve seen over the past two weeks and think this team could do some damage in the spring.
Five Observations on the Toronto Maple Leafs Six Game Winning Streak
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on fire, but they can’t just sit back and assume everything is good from here on out. Here are 5 observations.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have completely turned their season around.
After struggling for consistency throughout the first four months of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have won six in a row, making their February record an impressive 7-2.
The reasons for the Leafs struggles this season have been obvious to everyone: they entered the season with a weak blue-line, an injury prone rookie goalie and a goalie they took to arbitration.
Additionally, there was some question to how the team would replace Ryan O’Reilly and Michael Bunting, and for the most part they have not been able to.
However, what they have done is finally find a way to work the disperate parts of their lineup into a workable whole. Initially, having David Kampf – a one dimensional defense only player – as the NHL’s most expensive fourth-liner was a major problem because he was paired in the bottom-six with a one-dimensional offensive player, Max Domi.
This was a problem because having Ryan Reaves or Noah Gregor made the fourth line incapable of defensive assignments, while to make use of Max Domi at 3C Keefe had to play him extremely sheltered minutes.
The solution appears to be using Domi on the second line with Bertuzzi and Nylander where his two wingers can evelvate his offensive game and make it so his defensive deficiancies aren’t so glaring.
With Tavares playing 3C with a couple of high-scoring rookies (McMann and Robertson are scoring as much or more per minute than William Nylander at 5v5) the Leafs look to be running a very solid top-nine, and the team as a whole just looks so much dangerous.
Lost in the shadow of Robertson and McMann’s breakouts is Pontus Holmberg who is giving the Leafs by far the best 4th line minutes they’ve seen this year to date.
