Another calendar year has come and gone. It is time to look forward to what is in store for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023.
Many good things happened in 2022 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the ultimate prize still eluded them. The team has improved its goaltending and overall team defense. As helpful as that might be, Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas will likely add a player or two before the NHL trade deadline. Doing so will come down to cost and which assets the Maple Leafs are willing to move.
With the focus of this article being on the entire year ahead, some of the predictions will focus on the coming off-season. It could end up being the most crucial off-season for GM Dubas. Many in Leafs Nation will have their fingers crossed. The main focus will be on the contract situation with Auston Matthews.
Other areas to focus on will be restricted free-agent goaltender Ilya Samsonov, adding to the team’s top-six and Toronto’s defense heading into next season. The year 2023 will be interesting for Toronto, and fans can’t wait to see what happens.
My Five Bold Predictions for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023
Toronto Finds Playoff Success
I won’t go as far as saying the Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup, but I predict they will make it to the final four. At this point, fans just want to see them make it out of the first round. The momentum of winning round one will help them win round two. After that, I think the overall toll of playoff hockey will catch up to them, and Toronto will lose the conference final.
Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Auston Matthews to Mega Deal
As of right now, Auston Matthews is free to sign a contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He still has one year left on his deal for the 2023-24 season. An extension signed will not have salary cap ramifications until the 2024-25 season. Using the go big or go home analogy, I think Toronto and Matthews will agree to an 8-year deal worth $15 million a season. According to capfriendly.com, Toronto has a projected cap space of $55.9 million available for the 2024-25 season.
Ilya Samsonov Signs Multi-Year Extension
When you look at Samsonov’s age (25) and level of play, it becomes easier to see Dubas signing the RFA to a multi-year deal to keep him in Toronto. I predict the new deal being between 4-5 years long with a cap hit of around $4 million. The deal will keep Samsonov in Toronto during his prime years.
Toronto Maple Leafs Will Not Add a Top-Four Defenseman
I think Toronto GM Kyle Dubas is content with a defense that consists of Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, Rasmus Sandin, Mark Giordano, and Timothy Liljegren. The addition of Conor Timmins has worked out well for the Maple Leafs. He is an RFA this off-season, and I think re-signing him is a no-brainer for Dubas. Toronto may add to their defense, but it will be strictly for added depth.
Toronto’s Top-Six Will Be Fixed from Within
Toronto needs to add to their top six is something fans have been hearing all season. I think keeping Michael Bunting in the top six and adding prospect Matthew Knies at the end of the season will address any top six issues.
With that in mind, I also think Toronto will re-sign Bunting to a multi-year deal this off-season. Dubas will focus most of his cap space on re-signing his star players and RFAs.