Bobby McMann achieved a significant milestone when he scored during the Toronto Maple Leafs recent victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The tally was the former undrafted free agent's 20th goal of the season.
The emerging power forward was the latest to join the Maple Leafs twenty-goal club. Others include William Nylander (40), John Tavares (32), Auston Matthews (27), Matthew Knies (25), and Mitch Marner (22).
That's good news, considering that ties the Maple Leafs with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the most players with twenty or more goals (6) among the current NHL playoff teams. The bad news is that most of that production comes from the top two lines.
A deeper look at Toronto's goal-scoring compared to their playoff counterparts further accentuates a season-long concern. The Leafs are top-heavy and lack scoring from their bottom two lines.
Goal scoring numbers disclose Maple Leafs lack of depth
After the Maple Leafs and Lightning, the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights have five twenty-goal scorers. Then come the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, and Ottawa Senators with four. Interestingly enough, the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers only have three. That is misleading. Three more players will likely reach that mark by the end of the year, and trade deadline addition Brad Marchand arrived with twenty-one goals from Boston.
A look at the number of double-digit goal scorers among the current list of playoff teams does not favor the Leafs. Nick Robertson is seventh among Maple Leafs players with twelve goals, which is actually really great when you factor in his ice-time, linemates, and power-play time. Scott Laughton scored eleven with the Flyers before being traded to Toronto, where he is still searching for his first in a Leafs uniform. Including Laughton's numbers from Philadelphia, the Maple Leafs have eight double-digit goal-scorers.
Nine other current playoff teams have more double-digit scorers than the Leafs. They include the Montreal Canadiens (11 players with 10 or more goals), the Golden Knights (10), the Jets (10), the Carolina Hurricanes (10), the Stars (9), the Avalanche (9), the Senators (9), the Panthers (9), and the Capitals (9). Only the Los Angeles Kings (7) and Minnesota Wild (7) have fewer double-digit goal scorers. The St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, and Lightning have eight players with ten or more goals, the same as the Maple Leafs.
The numbers are not surprising. The Leafs have relied heavily on the top end of their roster for years. The trade deadline addition of Laughton has yet to solidify the bottom two lines. It would be foolish for head coach Craig Berube to break up the McMann-Tavares-Nylander combination based on their recent sizzling play.
Berube has limited time to sort it out
Knies' continued ascension as the team's first-line left winger has entrenched his spot with Matthews and Marner. Recently, the Leafs have been searching for the right combinations for their third and fourth lines. Laughton and Max Domi have alternated between the wing and center. Robertson and David Kampf have been in and out of the lineup. Calle Jarnkrok is trying to find his place in the lineup.
Max Pacioretty, currently sidelined with an injury, is a wild card. He is a proven goal-scorer and added a physical presence earlier in the season, but his age and recent injury history are concerns. His play is the biggest concern, however, as other than the first ten or so games, he has been close to unplayable.
Steven Lorentz has earned a spot in the lineup for the opening night of the playoffs. Domi has upped his game over the past few weeks. He and Robertson have shown some chemistry. Laughton should improve as he gets more comfortable with his new team. Jarnkrok and possibly Pacioretty may find their way.
Time is running short for the Toronto Maple Leafs to find a cohesive, productive bottom-six group of forwards that can compete with their playoff opponents. Right now, the top-six better prepare for some heavy lifting come the postseason.