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

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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.

Sep 28, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray (30) plays the puck against the Montreal Canadiens in the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Matt Murray

The biggest question surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs playoff chances this year is the health and play of Matt Murray.

He has a few more games left to give himself the net and be the man for the Leafs during Game 1 of the playoffs.

However, as of right now, there’s no way he’s starting.

I mean, how can you take a chance on Murray right now when you have Samsonov? I know the previous playoff success is an important stat but come on, he’s not playing to that caliber right now.

It’ll be interesting to see how much time Murray even gets down the stretch.

If he’s able to play well for four or five games, there’s a possibility that Sheldon Keefe goes with Murray over Samsonov. However, if he plays average, he may never touch the net in the playoffs.

With a few good games, Murray could change his career path and make Toronto’s job easier.

However, if he doesn’t perform well, not only could Murray not play a playoff game, but he could be traded this offseason.

MONTREAL, CANADA – OCTOBER 12: Alexander Kerfoot #15 o . (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Alex Kerfoot

Kerfoot is such an interesting player right now.

He was given a chance to play on the top-line and looked good, but then was benched in the third period one game after things went well.

That’s the biggest problem with Kerfoot, as consistency isn’t really his thing. At least not when it comes to scoring.

Ever since Kerfoot joined the Leafs, he’s been OK. He hasn’t been great, but he hasn’t been bad, which is why he’s continued to stay with the team for so long.

He’s been unfairly compared to Nazem Kadri because he was part of the trade package, when their games aren’t really close.

Kerfoot can help kill penalties and his $3.5M contract would suggest that he should be in the line-up, but does he really do anything special that the team should keep him there?

I mean, once Ryan O’Reilly returns and if Matthew Knies joins the line-up, does Kerfoot really help this team?

The Leafs have more than enough forward depth that Kerfoot could expendable if they wanted another type of player in the line-up.

If they wanted to go full physical on the fourth-line, they could even go with a Zach Aston-Reese-Noel Acciari-Sam Lafferty combo over Kerfoot if they wanted, while the top three lines would be stacked with offense.

He’ll more than likely play all the playoff games, but he shouldn’t think he’s safe.

TORONTO, CANADA – MARCH 17: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Luke Schenn

It was really fun when Schenn returned to the line-up.

Seeing him wear his No. 2 sweater and have his family watch him at home was something special but his game thus far would suggest that he deserves to be in the press box.

Schenn has a big opportunity to take over Justin Holl’s and be a bottom-pairing defenseman.

His size and ability to hit should make him a strong candidate in the playoffs, but if he’s on the ice for too many goals against, his size isn’t going to outweigh his plus/minus.

He’s only played a few games so far and he’s been noticeably bad, big hits aside.

Nobody expected him to join the Toronto Maple Leafs and look like a Norris Trophy winning defenseman, but it’s tough to see what Toronto saw in him right now.

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He still has time to turn it around with a few games left, so if he can play more defensively-sound for the last few weeks of the season, he could show that he’s valuable enough to start in Game 1. However, all signs would point towards Schenn starting the postseason in the press box.

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