Heading into 2020-21, the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a crucial season for the franchise.
This offseason, for the first time in the Kyle Dubas era, the Toronto Maple Leafs GM was finally free to spend and upgrade without any “dead” contracts impeding his vision. In his first summer, Dubas had to find a suitor for the anchor that was Matt Martin’s contract whereas, in the 2019 offseason, it was Patrick Marleau and Nikita Zaitsev who were the bad money contracts left from the Lamoriello regime.
In the 2020 offseason, however, Dubas was able to bring in TJ Brodie, Joe Thornton, and Wayne Simmonds – among others, finally bringing to light his team philosophy. There are very few remnants on this roster remaining from the previous management team.
With a full season of his long-time partner and head coach Sheldon Keefe running his club, it is safe to say this Toronto Maple Leafs team is unequivocally Kyle Dubas’. And because of that, this 2020-21 season will be the most important in his career so far.
But Dubas is not alone in sharing that sentiment. Like him, several key players are facing an extremely imperative season ahead. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five players who will be playing with the most on the line this season.