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Who Will Earn the Left Wing Jobs in the Toronto Maple Leafs Top 6?

By Michael Da Ponte

TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Auston Matthews #34 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take to the ice to play against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Auston Matthews #34 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take to the ice to play against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Nicholas Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nicholas Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs (Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports) /

The Candidates

Nick Ritchie – In Ritchie, I believe the Toronto Maple Leafs have a solid top 6 left winger that would gel perfectly with John Tavares and William Nylander. It seems like a no brainer to me, Ritchie is big, plays with an edge, can create a lot of space on the ice for Nylander and Tavares, and can put the puck in the net. I see Ritchie as a lock in the top 6, and my preference would be on the 2nd line, so let’s take a look at the other options on LW to play with Matthews and Marner:

Ondrej Kase – Has dealt with injuries the last couple of seasons but has the potential to score 20+ goals when deployed in a top 6 role. Durability would have to be seen as an issue though as Kase has never played heavy minutes, and may only be suited for 13-15 minutes per game. As we know, Keefe likes to have Matthews and Marner out there 20+ minutes per game so having Kase on their LW could create the need for in game shuffling. Kase is still young though, and if his conditioning can be brought up to par he could be a very effective winger for Matthews/Marner.

Michael Bunting – This could prove to be the most savvy signing of the offseason for Kyle Dubas if Michael Bunting can come in and be effective in a top 6 role. Signed for the next two seasons, just like Nick Ritchie, Bunting could carve out a role for himself alongside Matthews and Marner, and cash in on a big contract two years from now, much like Hyman did.

Bunting has shown an ability to score at every level, has a sneaky wrist shot, and also plays with a bit of an edge. I hesitate to call him a possible Hyman 2.0, but he could quickly become a fan favourite if he can continue his efficient play. Bunting does not have a lot of NHL experience, and obviously will not continue to score at the pace he did in 21 games last year, but even half of that production will make him a star in Toronto, and solidify his spot in the top 6 for the next two seasons.

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