The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to need bounce back seasons from a few players if they hope to compete for a Stanley Cup next season.
Whether due to slumps or injuries, the Toronto Maple Leafs had some players who didn’t live up to expectations last season. Auston Matthews and William Nylander met or exceeded expectations, but some other members of the team are going to need to bounce back.
With a down year the previous season comes the hope of a bounce back season the following year, for example we’ve seen it with William Nylander, and now we need to see it again next season with a couple others.
Last season three particular Toronto Maple Leafs caught my eye during the season and I think they should and need to have somewhat of a bounce back season next year.
3. John Tavares – 30 years old – C
2019-20 stats – 63 GP – 26 G – 34 A – 60 PTS – 53.2% CF%
Career stats – 814 GP – 345 G – 424 A – 769 PTS – 51.5% CF%
It’s not that Tavares was terrible last year, he wasn’t. It’s just that he didn’t live up to the expectations he created when he signed his contract and then proceeded to score 47 goals.
Tavares has an $11M AAV and if though this could be the start of a decline, I am not too concerned about that given his generally solid play and the fact that he injured his hand, missed seven games and didn’t seem to be himself for a large portion of the season afterwards.
He potted home 47 goals and 88 points in his first year in the blue and white and followed it up with a strange season this year, putting up only 27 goals but still 60 points in 63 games. Like I said, not a bad year, but one in which I think its fair to expect him to improve upon.
John Tavares is known for his goal scoring ability as well as his play making ability as he has a great set of hands as well and sets up his line mates very well.. All in all if the Leafs get 47 goal John Tavares, they’re going to be unstoppable as Matthews enters his prime. (Stats from Hockey-Reference.com)