Copyright yardbarker
As the focus of the city of Toronto shifts from the Blue Jays back into the Leafs, several storylines are being parroted to those checking back into NHL action. The Leafs, like much of the league, are hovering around an even record. For a team as used to regular season accomplishments as any, the expectations are higher. Throw in the high-profile exit of Mitch Marner, and many are having major doubts about the strength of the team. Offence was expected to be the issue, but in truth, it is not so simple. While the power play has been awful, the Leafs are scoring at a good rate, well within the top 10 in the league. The defensive coverage has been suspect, an area the team can do much better in. There is at least a sign of ability, as the penalty kill is stronger than it has been in years. Unexpected offence Still, the concern for offence persists, and based on the personnel that Leafs fans are used to, the group might seem a bit lacking. The team is deep and has lots of functionality, rather physicality, at its disposal. There is room for some offensive contributors to distinguish themselves. The good news is that the Leafs have found some good play from a pair of young wingers in Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson. Given how aggressively the team has sold picks and prospects over the Auston Matthews era, the Leafs are desperate for this type of internal development. Whether or not either Cowan or Robertson is able to reach the core player category, as Matthew Knies has, finding regular roles is a huge boost. If one or both can take hold of a top-six spot, they will be huge answers for the short and long-term health of the franchise. Robertson breaking out? Robertson is a bit older, and many fans have experienced some whiplash over his time with the Leafs. A dynamic shooter, Robertson’s stock rose quickly after being selected in the second round in 2019. Injuries played a huge part early on, as any time Robertson seemed to take a step, the rug was pulled from underneath him. A big problem was also how his game was a bit redundant in the Leafs lineup. Defined by high-scoring superstars, the Leafs needed other skill sets to complement their lineup. Things seemed even more bleak as time went on. Robertson was requesting a trade at one point, and coach Craig Berube came in with a vision that might have further clashed with Robertson’s offensive skillset. Once again, Robertson did not come out of camp with a scoring role. Since then, fortune has presented Robertson with opportunities so far this season. He has been able to score in bunches, but now his skillset is much less abundant through the Leafs lineup. It has been a strange career arc, but Robertson has the ability for more. Perhaps he is ready for a true step forward after a long stretch of apparent stagnation. Robertson is gritty, and his work ethic has rarely been the alleged issue. Instead, his offseason training is often spoken about glowingly. His focus and determination are visible. His slight frame certainly presents obstacles, and his play away from the puck is often an issue. Perhaps opportunity, confidence, and trust have started to grow. It might be too optimistic to expect Robertson to become a true top-six forward, but a role as a serviceable top-nine option seems possible. For now, the size and skill of Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies represent a great landing spot. There are other options, as Robertson has shown chemistry with Bobby McMann as well. The depth of the Leafs lineup means that chemistry and playing style will factor heavily into lineup decisions. Robertson is competing with other smaller offensive wingers, like Matias Maccelli. At this point, Robertson has shown more chemistry with the available linemates, but there is no guarantee that it will persist. Without a contract for next season, the Leafs are far from beholden to Maccelli, giving Robertson the opportunity to stick long term. The duo are not alone, though Max Domi’s ability to play centre further insulates him from the press box. Cowan looks ready The other factor in this lineup conundrum is rookie Easton Cowan. Widely considered the Leafs best prospect, Cowan’s ability to become a core player is huge for the Leafs. Younger and with more upside than Robertson or Maccelli, Cowan is a clear inflection point for the Leafs. It is still early, but Cowan has continued to grow confidence in the NHL. His waiver-exempt status would make sending him to the AHL at some point rather simple, and the fact that he has held his own so well already is quite promising for the future. Still, Cowan has the rest of the season to continue his growth, and he might be firmly entrenched as a strong contributor come the spring. Cowan has an edge to his game, a dimension that will blend in well with the Leafs aspirations. With Marner gone, there is a void for another skilled winger to join the Leafs core. There might be a rookie wall, and there could be another season or two until he truly hits his prime, but Cowan has thoroughly impressed so far. While their direct contributions will be evident, getting strong play from Cowan and Robertson might change the Leafs in other ways. For one, the expected hole up front might not be as dire as anticipated. Obviously, the power play leaves something to be desired at the moment, but the Leafs are generating enough offence to win. Roster management Without many trade assets, the Leafs will only be able to upgrade so much. There are areas that can be improved in theory, but in practice, it is not always simple or affordable to significantly upgrade multiple areas. With the youth of Robertson and Cowan paying dividends, the Leafs might be able to forgo spending on a skilled winger. The Leafs might instead focus on other areas. This might include a bigger winger or a defensive forward. The Leafs have spent a lot to acquire centres like Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton, so targeting a centre is not a necessity. The forward group as a whole is crowded, so any moves for forwards will be about value, quality, and fit. This might also include an upgrade to the blueline, an area where the Leafs rely heavily on older players. Many fans see a lack of offensive talent, while others might point to a lack of a Norris Trophy candidate. It is, of course, highly unlikely that a Norris Trophy-calibre player will become available, but some options to improve might present themselves. Essentially, the Leafs might now be open to a new market, able to take on a reasonable salary if they so choose. Expensive but serviceable options might make some sense circumstantially. Alex Wennberg, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Jason Dickinson might be options at centre, while Connor Murphy might be a blueline option. Some teams, like the Nashville Predators, could become highly speculated trade partners as a whole.
