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Toronto Maple Leafs: Will Expectations Be Met By Key Players?

By Kuljit Parmar

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 29: Head Coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs addresses the media prior to action between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 29, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 29: Head Coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs addresses the media prior to action between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 29, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are about to embark on another quest for the Stanley Cup.

The start of pre-season hockey in the NHL is looming and the regular season is right behind, which means high expectations for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Yet again, the team is coming off of a playoff failure and hoping to live up to the massive expectations that having Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews on the team comes with.

The important question that I will look at today is how the “Core Four”  will perform and if the new signings will help the Leafs succeed where they haven’t in the past.

When looking at the new signings to the team, especially forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi, the main question will be how they will adapt to their new surroundings. Of course, Domi is the son of legend Tie Domi, who played as an enforcer for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the late nineties to early 2000s.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Will Expectations Be Met By Key Players?

Tyler Beruzzi is going to have to have a huge season in order to meet expectations, but Domi should be a support player will likely play with enough good players to post acceptable numbers.

Incoming defenseman John Klingberg will have to do everything he can to play his game according to the coaching staff’s desire and earn his spot in the line-up as a good fit for the team, after a down season in which he was one of the worst players in the NHL.

Can Auston Matthews get back to his MVP ways? Can Mitch Marner finally crack 100 points? What will happen with Nylander, and will John Tavares stave off an inevitable decline for one more season?

These are the main questions surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs and as a fan, I am hoping all players pull though and give us a ton of fun and entertainment over the next six or so months.

Most of the team’s off-season acquisitions were short term deals, meaning that that GM Brad Treliving won’t be tied to any underperformers when the trade deadline roles around.

Obviously we won’t know the answers to any of these questions for a while, but as we enter the new season, that’s what I’m thinking about.

Next. Leafs Should Pursue Chris Tanev. dark

Hopefully the Toronto Maple Leafs can finally win the Stanley Cup.

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