What is the outlook for new-look Maple Leafs this NHL season?

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Declaring the Maple Leafs to be a greater staff on the eve of this season have to be certified by how unhealthy issues went final yr. 

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Poor sufficient for change from the very prime to the trenches, the dressing room shaken clear like an Etch-A-Sketch. Now Toronto should measure its upgrades towards everybody else within the NHL, beginning with its last-place standing within the Atlantic Division. 

After another apply on Monday, the Leafs submit their 23-man roster and start an 84-game schedule, which begins with a back-to-back at dwelling towards the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Islanders on Tuesday and Wednesday, then 14 dates in October. 

A evaluate of the brand new crew by place: 

Goaltending 

It’s a Leafs Nation factor: Wanting too far forward and fretting what Sergei Bobrovsky will seem like at age 41, whereas nonetheless gathering his $7 million US. However within the right here and now, the long run Corridor of Famer is a big improve on the uncertainty plaguing the crease the previous few years. 

A load-managed Bobrovsky (he would require assist from Anthony Stolarz and maybe Artur Akhtyamov) can simply play in his common 50-game vary. Like the remainder of the Leafs making an attempt to rebound, he thinks his 2025-26 fall from grace in Florida was a blip, not the beginning of a decline. 

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However there was a consolation zone for him within the Cats’ system that led to 2 Stanley Cups, which is way more durable to copy right here. 

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Defence 

By the numbers, if No. 43 and No. 44 succeed (Darren Raddysh and Morgan Rielly) with No. 8 and No. 22 (Chris Tanev, 36, after main surgical procedure with outdated associate Jake McCabe), the Leafs will reduce on their conference-worst goals-against common from final season. 

There’s an enormous leap of religion that Rielly can reverse his low confidence and own-zone points and that the hard-shooting Raddysh can add greater than only a power-play bomb. In the meantime, Tanev solely is aware of one hockey creed: Get in the best way to cease the person and puck, which comes with inherent dangers. 

If the foursome survives all that and Oliver Ekman-Larsson makes his common contributions with one in all Troy Stecher, Nick Blankenburg or Emil Andrae, then a serious downside can have been addressed. 

Forwards 

We’ll get to golden ticket Gavin McKenna in a minute, however first let’s take a look at the huge overhaul on the third and fourth traces. 

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Years of making an attempt to suit sq. pegs in spherical holes, reminiscent of Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli final season, gave method to a purpose-built backside six. Nick Paul and Colton Sissons have been efficient with different groups and now get alternative with a puck hound and sniper on their left facet in younger Easton Cowan. 

The power line is a little more of a piece in progress, however the already standard Teddy Blueger has a minimum of two belligerents to work with in Zack MacEwen and Brandon Duhaime, whereas Dakota Joshua works again from damage. The switches got here on the expense of the demoted Steven Lorentz, whereas Bo Groulx could possibly be the lone member of the Calder Cup-champion Marlies to get a spot the place it as soon as appeared, pre-John Chayka, that the farmhands would flood the roster at camp. 

McKenna could possibly be among the best insulated first-overall picks in league historical past with Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander and Matthew Knies taking the media warmth and the checkers. But McKenna has willingly and ably stepped into the highlight of this market, wowing the gang and his staff with pace, agility and passing at camp and in two exhibition video games. However he’s but to face the opposition’s A lineup, play a back-to-back or step on hostile ice in Florida, Boston or Ottawa. 

The large experiment up entrance is Jack Roslovic in Mitch Marner’s outdated spot on junior pal Matthews’s proper facet. Their second exhibition recreation went higher than the primary for the road, although McKenna may issue there ahead of later relying on Roslovic and  Knies. 

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby 

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