Which Toronto Maple Leafs Player Will Have a Breakout Year in 2022-23?

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a list of players with career years last season.

If I were to pick one player from that list as the one with a breakout year, I would choose Michael Bunting, whom the Toronto Maple Leafs signed for an incredibly cheap rate.

Yes, it was his first complete NHL season, but he kicked the door down. Bunting recorded 23 goals and 40 assists for 63 points in 79 games. He only had 13 points in 21 games for the Arizona Coyotes the previous season. (Stats from hockey-reference.com)

Playing on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will enhance anyone’s stats. Bunting was a benefactor of this last season, just like Zach Hyman was before him. Will Bunting produce even better stats this season? He most likely will.

Bunting wasn’t the only player to have a breakout season for Toronto last season. Others include Pierre Engvall, David Kampf, and Ilya Mikheyev. So who will be the breakout players for the Maple Leafs in 2022-23?

Toronto Maple Leafs: Potential Breakout Players for 2022-23

Two players come to mind when I think about who could have a breakout season in 2022-23 for Toronto. One is a returning player looking to take that next step on the team. The other is a new player who signed as a free agent and is looking to impress his new team.

The first player is defenseman Timothy Liljegren. He recorded five goals and 18 assists for 23 points in 61 games last season. Freshly signed to a new contract, I expect to see Liljegren’s ice time increase. He played well with Mark Giordano near the end of the season, so we could see that pairing again. However, I expect head coach Sheldon Keefe to try pairing him with Morgan Rielly on the top pairing at some point.

Liljegren will get every opportunity to succeed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hopefully, he continues to put in the effort and make the most of those opportunities. I think Liljegren will register 30-35 points this season if he stays healthy.

The next player with a chance for a breakout year is Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Aube-Kubel signed with Toronto in July as a free agent. He recently won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. Last season was his most productive season to date, with 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 74 games.

Aube-Kubel will be part of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ bottom six this season. If he puts his playoff experience into his everyday play, he will get plenty of playing time. He will be looking for a strong start as he tries to impress his new team. I think he can become a 30-35 point player in Toronto this season.