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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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Toronto Maple Leafs
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.

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