Hockey Foundations: The Cornerstone Players Driving Maple Leafs' Success

Every team has its cornerstones. Without them, its chances of success go down dramatically. Just like a building structure relies on its cornerstones, a hockey team has its cornerstones to hold the team together. Imagine a building without any foundation. What would happen to it? Like a building or organization, every hockey franchise has to have a solid foundation. Ideally, a team's cornerstone is one goalie, one forward, and a defenceman.

The elite teams have four or five players, but this is not fantasy; most hockey teams will be happy with three.

This article will discuss the three most essential cornerstones I see in Toronto.

Auston Matthews

Matthews is the straw that stirs the coffee. He makes the world go around as far as the Toronto Maple Leafs are concerned. He is the man the Toronto Maple Leafs look to when the game is on the line. He will have to score at least 40 goals this season. Matthews makes everyone around him better. That is what a superstar does.

Morgan Reilly

Everyone wants to put a major hate on Morgan. At times, he did struggle last season, but like it or not, Riley is the leader on the defence of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He will become better because the defence around him is becoming better. He is getting more support and will not be as worn out at the end of this season as in the past. Morgan will have to be the Morgan of the earlier years. He needs to get more involved offensively. The Maple Leafs need more goals from their defense. At the same time, he has to be defensively responsible, almost like Superman. Morgan needs at least 60 points this season to do this; the Toronto Maple Leafs must have a better power-play. Morgan will be the quarterback.

Anthony Stolarz

Anthony was clearly in the upper echelon of goalies last year. Anthony will be there for the Toronto Maple Leafs to succeed this season. His vision on the ice was fantastic from side to side. His reflexes would bail him out when he was out of position. Anthony will have to establish himself as a number one goalie to prove that he is the man when called upon

For the Toronto Maple Leafs to succeed, it will take hard work and dedication. Anthony, Austin, and Morgan will have to be the leaders, for every follower needs a leader to show them the way.

Randy