If all goes according to plan, next season will see the Toronto Maple Leafs take yet another step forward in their quest for a Stanley Cup.
And that forward progression cannot be done without individual improvement.
A number of Leafs performed admirably last season. Auston Matthews, when healthy, scored at a higher pace than his historic rookie campaign. Mitch Marner caught fire in the second half. And, not to mention, Patrick Marleau flirted with 30 goals while flirting with age 40.
Still, there is room for adjustment on this team. The Leafs have a multitude of young players entering the fold full-time, hoping to build on their successful stints. Could one of them take the biggest leap forward? Well, that’s exactly the question the EIL staff asked themselves this week.
This week’s roundtable question: which Leaf will take the biggest step forward next season?
The answers may, and will, shock you.