Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Key Takeaways Heading Into Opening Night

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have two preseason games left but Monday’s game is as close as you’ll get to the opening night line-up.

We’re roughly one week away from the Toronto Maple Leafs playing meaningful hockey games and there’s a lot to be happy about.

They may have blown a third period lead against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, but overall you should be pretty excited about this season if you’re a Leafs fan.

Over the past seven years, being a fan of this team has been frustrating, but at the same time, it’s been very rewarding.

We take Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and John Tavares for granted nowadays but every time a new season starts, we should all be thankful that they’re in the blue-and-white and not somewhere else.

As shown by the team’s power-play throughout the preseason, this squad has so much chemistry and could be even better this year, if John Klingberg works out.

I wouldn’t put too much faith in him as a defensive-defenseman, but he does provide a lot of offensive output that not many other defenseman on this team possess.

We all know that the Leafs need to upgrade their defensive-core this season, but their offense should be able to carry them into a playoff spot until the NHL Trade Deadline, which is when GM Brad Treliving should make his moves.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will once again be a playoff team this year, but here are three takeaways from their preseason thus far as we get set for the 2023-24 season.

Oct 2, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor (18) celebrates with team mates after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens in the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Noah Gregor Will Make the Toronto Maple Leafs

Noah Gregor has earned himself an NHL contract and should be a full-time player on the Leafs fourth-line this year after his performance thus far.

Gregor was one of the last signings of the offseason, as he joined the organization on a Professional Try-Out (PTO) and has looked great.

He has over 200 games of NHL experience already, so jumping into the line-up shouldn’t be a surprise, but none of us expected this player to be on the roster last summer.

However, his speed is strong and his aggressive nature makes him a natural fit on the team’s fourth-line.

Obviously you’re never expecting much offense from a fourth-line, but Gregor has shown that he can also score and as a result could move up and down the line-up depending on injuries.

Paired beside the likes of Sam Lafferty, Ryan Reaves and David Kampf throughout training camp, Gregor is a not only a no-brainer to crack the roster because of skill, but because of his contract, as he won’t be making much more than league-minimum.

Treliving made a few bone-head moves throughout the offseason but the Gregor addition seems like one of his best thus far.

(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Auston Matthews Shouldn’t Play PK

I can understand the reasoning behind having Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner kill penalties, as they could be more deadly than the opposition’s power-play, but overall I don’t like this move.

Matthews is one of the best defensive forwards in hockey and is known for being strong on the puck, breaking up passes and having a world-class stick-lift, but I don’t want him on the penalty-kill for one main reason: his health.

The last thing I want to see is Matthews jump in front of a slapshot and get hurt on the penalty-kill.

I know that this type of thing can happen in any given moment of a hockey game, but the risk goes up the second he’s on that unit.

Also, Matthews isn’t a burner type of player that’s going to stop a pass and rush down the ice. His partner Mitch Marner has that ability, which is why he’s a great fit, but I’d rather see someone like Max Domi, Noah Gregor or Sam Lafferty go nuts on the P.K and help.

Maybe I’ll be dead wrong with this and Matthews will work out great, but I’d prefer to use Matthews energy 5v5 or on the power-play.

Another thing to consider is that statistically, Matthews is maybe the best 5v5 players alive and instead of playing him on the PK, adding another couple of minutes of 5v5 play might actually have a bigger impact on the team.

Either way, the risk vs reward doesn’t add up for Matthews on the PK.

TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 27: Matthew Knies #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs .(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Leafs System is Stacked

Although we seem to worry about the current state of the Leafs and whether or not the team will re-sign William Nylander, they should be pretty excited about the future of the roster.

Though the Leafs had a terrible time drafting players during the seasons where they were rewarded with high picks, since 2018 their drafting has been quite excellent.

If preseason has taught us anything, it’s that there are a handful of players who could turn into top-six forwards with this squad, sooner than later.

For example, Nick Robertson and Matthew Knies are both NHL ready and will look to make a difference this season, but there are two other young players who could be there soon.

Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan looked fantastic during preseason and could be ready for the NHL as soon as next year.

Both players will be sent back to junior, as they’re still eligible to play there, but Leafs fans should be super excited about them.

Coming off a 31 goal and 67 point season, Minten will look to crush those numbers this year with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL.

Next. Leafs Should Trade Jarnkrok. dark

Cowan, who’s a year younger than Minten, should use the 2023-24 season to build momentum for next year, as his London Knights will once again be a favorite to not only win the OHL Championship but compete for the Memorial Cup.

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