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5 Reasons to Be Optimistic About the Toronto Maple Leafs

By David Agnew

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 11: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third goal of the game in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 11, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens 6-5 in a shootout. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 11: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third goal of the game in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 11, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens 6-5 in a shootout. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) celebrates with forwards Mitchell Marner (16) and Auston Matthews (34) and William Nylander (88). Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

The Top Players Are Healthy

Looking back over the past several years, it seems like one or more of Toronto’s key players was either out of the lineup due to injury, or playing hurt.  For example, Auston Matthews has only played a full 82 game season once, in his rookie year (2016-17).  Nagging injuries last year contributed to the goal scoring dropoff that Matthews endured, potting “only” 40 goals, versus the 60 he scored the previous season.

Morgan Rielly missed significant time last season with a knee injury.  It’s difficult for any defender to get through a season unscathed, whether it’s due to blocking shots or getting hammered by opposing forwards when going back to retrieve pucks (this despite the existence of hybrid icing).  The Toronto Maple Leafs defense corps has already suffered more than its share of injuries this season, with Jake McCabe, Connor Timmins and Timothy Liljegren all missing time.

John Tavares has been pretty lucky over the years on the injury front, although he was knocked out of the playoffs in Game 1 of the Playoffs in 2020-2021 versus the Montreal Canadiens.  Tavares was stretchered off the ice after a scary play in which he took an accidental knee to the head from Corey Perry.

Not surprisingly, William Nylander and Mitch Marner have been mostly healthy during their careers.  Neither plays the type of physical style that often leads to sustaining injuries.

The Toronto Maple Leafs current goaltending tandem has certainly had their fill of getting hurt.  Joseph Woll had shoulder and ankle injuries in previous years that threatened to derail his NHL career before it started.  Last season, Ilya Samsonov suffered through several injuries that kept him out of the lineup for various stretches of time.

This year, all of the top players are healthy.  No recoveries from surgery, no concussion worries, no nagging injuries (that we know of).  It’s hard enough sometimes to find your “mojo” as an NHL player without having to contend with being hurt.

The fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs stars are all in good shape gives us at least some confidence that they’ll eventually start to click like we know they can.

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