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The Biggest Questions Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs

By James Tanner |
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 21: Auston Matthews #34 (C) of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with Justin Holl #3, Jake Muzzin #8, Ilya Mikheyev #65 and William Nylander #88 after Matthews scored a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on November 21, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 21: Auston Matthews #34 (C) of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with Justin Holl #3, Jake Muzzin #8, Ilya Mikheyev #65 and William Nylander #88 after Matthews scored a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on November 21, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are about to embark on the season with the highest expectations in recent team history.

Last season was a disappointing one for the team and fans alike, but I believe it may have laid the foundation for future success to come.

The Toronto Maple Leafs may not have achieved the desired results, but there were so many anomalous occurrences (Michael Hutchinson being the single worst player in the NHL; The Babcock Collapse; Andersen’s worst season; Rielly and Muzzin injured at once; Columbus’ setting a save % record in the playoffs), and the underlying numbers so strong, that future success is highly probable.

With that in mind, let’s look to the most pressing questions as we enter the 2021 season.

Questions About the Toronto Maple Leafs

  • With Covid raging across America and Ontario, what kind of season is even possible?  The NHL was very successful last summer in the bubble, but this winter is an entirely different challenge.
  • Will Freddie Andersen return to form? Even just a career average season from the former star would have improved last year’s team tenfold. If Andersen can get back to star status, the Leafs are likely the best team in the NHL.
  • Will we see Matthews, Marner, and Nylander continue to improve or possibly even have their peak NHL season? (They are around the age when it tends to occur).
  • Can Matthews be an NHL MVP? He was arguably worthy of the award last season, and he had better numbers overall than the eventual winner (but not the more deserving candidates, Hellebuyck and Panarin).
  • Can Tavares flirt with a 50 goal pace again? He scored 47 – a career high – in year one with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • Will the defense be improved? Almost certainly, as T.J Brodie is a legitimate upgrade on Cody Ceci, and at least three players (Sandin, Dermott, Lehtonen) have potentially large impacts.
  • Was Justin Holl for real, or just a flash in the pan? Last year he outperformed actual NHL Superstars and Olympic hopefuls like Colton Parayko.  Even though when you say this, people who ignorantly base their views on reputation laughably accuse you of cherry pickings stats (crazy stats like how the team performed with them on the ice!).
  • How will Sandin, Lehtonen and Dermott all fit into the lineup, and who among them will become stars?
  • Will Nick Robertson make the team?
  • Will Wayne Simmonds have any impact at all?

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These are the questions facing the Toronto Maple Leafs as the 2021 NHL season gets underway.

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