Toronto Maple Leafs Need Young Players to Step Up in 2023-24
Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson
Both players are slated to finally play a full season donning the Toronto Maple Leafs sweater. Knies was unable to play a full season last year due to his comittment with the University of Minnesota.
After his playoff performance where he registered four points in seven games. he could prove to be a key player moving forward for the Leafs.
He is a rare powerforward type with the frame to properly fit that mould. On top of it, he has tremendous skill with the puck and has a proven track record of production to back-up his talent. Knies still has two more seasons remaining on his ELC, which comes with a $925,000 caphit.
Nick Robertson on the other hand, despite having opportunities with the big club has struggled to fully cement his role on the team, due to a series of unfortunate injuries.
If he can stay healthy, he could prove to be a productive top-six forward for the Leafs with his shooting skills and passing ability alone. (stats eliteprospects.com).
He has a high motor and energy level, which could still make him a useful player anywhere in the lineup, but his shot will possibly make him a star.
Robertson is signed for one more year of his ELC with a $796,667 caphit.
If Michael Bunting is not extended, which he shouldn’t be, either one or both of these players could be a great replacement for his production in the top-six.
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
Although there are rumours that SDA has left for the KHL’s Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Marlies writer Mark Rackham had this to say:
The Semyon Der-Arguchintsev rumour seems perverse to me.
— Mark (@MarkUkLeaf) June 2, 2023
Was very unfortunate with injuries in 22-23.
When healthy, SDA played the best hockey of his career to date.
Began last year on an absolute heater.
Surely Toronto qualifies him as an RFA.
Unless it's something else?!
It’s a tough situation to gauge and until it is confirmed, I will operate under the assumption that he is staying in North America for next season, as it doesn’t really make sense for the Leafs to give up on him at this point.
However, he is a pending RFA so a contract would still need to be negotiated with him.
But given he is unproven it likely does not break the bank. It should come in at or around his ELC caphit which was $766,667.
SDA has taken strides since he joined the Marlies.
The 22-year-old took on an increased role this past season and produced 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points in 51 games.
He could be a useful player as an offensive playmaker, and would have a long-shot outside chance at cracking the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup next season.
Nick Abruzzese
After a successful collegiate career with Harvard University, Abruzzese signed his entry-level contract nearing the end of the 2021-22 season.
He featured in nine games, recording one goal. This past season he showed promise by scoring 16 goals and 32 assists for 48 points in 69 games with the Toronto Marlies. He was also called-up and played two games registering a pair of assists.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs can sign him to a cheap deal, which they should given he’s ineligible to receive a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, he could be another promising addition in a depth role for the Leafs.
He’s shown flashes of skill and playmaking abilities that could serve well lower down the lineup for depth scoring.
Bobby McMann
The 26-year-old was high up on the Toronto Maple Leafs call-up list this past season.
He recorded 29 points in 30 games, including 21 goals, for the Marlies and played in 10 games for the Leafs to cover for injuries and resting. At one point he scored something like 19 goals in 19 games.
He could see a full-time promotion on the Leafs this upcoming season once again and could perhaps be a late-bloomer and play on a scoring line. He’s capable of playing centre and wing and could provide a useful skillset to a bottom-six line with his large frame.
26 year olds don’t tend to suddenly make the NHL and become stars, but scoring a goal-per-game over a quarter of a season is absolutely nuts and who knows what he could do in the proper situation?
Though he would likely start in a checking role, which he’s proven he can do with 17 hits over his 10 game NHL career.
His production with the Marlies also suggests that he could be able to chip-in on the scoresheet as well. At $762,500, he is as close to league minimum as can be, which could prove beneficial for him.
Pontus Holmberg
Holmberg showed plenty of promise this past season when he suited up for the Leafs in 37 contests.
Despite being sent back down for good in March, he would be an ideal candidate to take the next step and secure a permanent spot in the lineup.
He is able to penalty kill and munch minutes in a bottom-six checking role. On top of his defensive responsibility, he showed offensive flashes registering 13 points over his 37 games.
As an RFA, it would be dependent on his next contract, if he takes a cheap deal under $1 million. This could make him a potential candidate to fill a hole left by a player like Zack Aston-Reese or David Kampf.
There are plenty of ideal internal candidates for the Leafs to fill-out their roster with.
McMann and Holmberg would be perfectly suited in bottom-six roles as checking and defensive forwards. Abruzzese and SDA could provide supplemental offence both up and down the lineup in either a depth role or as a passenger on one of the Leafs top lines. As well, Robertson and Knies have the high-end skillsets to be complimentary pieces on any of the team’s top-six or top-nine lines.
Next. Leafs Top 10 Prospects. dark
Finally, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect pool that Kyle Dubas spent five years developing seems to have borne plenty of potential fruit for the organization to harvest.