Here we go again, Leafs fans. A new season, fresh hope, and the same old question: Is this finally the year the Toronto Maple Leafs figure it out?
My prediction: 97 pts
Part of the reason is the Florida Panthers. With a bunch of their big names banged up, the door is wide open for the Leafs to stay in the fight for the division. Toronto still has plenty of offense—Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies can put up goals with the best of them. Scoring won’t be the issue.
What will hold them back?
Goaltending health issues. I wonder how many games Woll will be gone. Stolartz has not been healthy for a full year. If Stolartz can stay healthy, it will go a long way toward the Maple Leafs’ success.
William Nylander - 95 pts
This will probably get me in a lot of trouble, but I think William might very well be the best player on the team. He is perhaps the most consistent playoff player they have. They cannot blame him for the downfall last season. He was there for game after game. William is slick with offensive skill.
Auston Matthews - 53
Auston will return to where he was a couple of seasons ago. He has to for the Toronto Maple Leafs to be successful. Matthews’ one-timers are deadly. He has one of the fastest releases on his shot. Auston is the captain of this team. He has to show us why.
Surprise player - Matias Maccelli
I have a feeling that Maccelli will surprise us. He will be motivated by last year’s disappointment. A fast-skating forward, Maccelli is a slick playmaker. He has a great opportunity to play with Matthews and Knies. I see a promising future for Maccelli.
Final Word
The Leafs will be a more complete team this season. They will be a grittier team, willing to fight for the puck more. They will outwork teams and win puck battles.
One player will not overcome the loss of Marner; the effort will be shared by the team. The loss of Marner is huge, but the team will simply find another way.
No comments:
Post a Comment