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3 Toronto Maple Leafs Who Need to Play Better to Start Game 1

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 17: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes is knocked to the ice by Luke Schenn #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 17, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 17: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes is knocked to the ice by Luke Schenn #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 17, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 5-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Although the Toronto Maple Leafs have locked up a playoff berth, there are still plenty of questions regarding the Game 1 starting line-up.

It doesn’t feel normal that an 100-point team has so many question marks around this time of the year, but here we are with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Even when things are going well, there’s always something to complain about.

Most playoff teams have tweaks and adjustments throughout the playoffs, but it feels like the Leafs have six different forwards and defenseman who could or couldn’t be in the line-up when Game 1 starts. Matthew Knies and/or a Toronto Marlies player or two could join the roster, which would shake things up, while the defensive-core has serious depth.

All of these factors mean that nobody is safe when the playoffs start. Even the goalies can’t be too safe because Joseph Woll is playing so well in the AHL that he’s only one injury away from potentially starting a playoff game!

That scenario is obviously much more unlikely than the defense and forwards line possibilities, but crazy things happen around playoff-time, so anything is possible.

Here are three players who need to play better to guarantee ice-time for Game 1 of the playoffs.

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