2 Toronto Maple Leafs Who Can Replace Tyler Bertuzzi's Goal Scoring
The Toronto Maple Leafs were the NHL's second-highest scoring team last season, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche.
Having Auston Matthews (who won the Rocket Richard Trophy, again) will of course help that stat, but many believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are due for a slight regression in that statistic for this upcoming year.
The loss of Tyler Bertuzzi, combined with no real major additions up front is a big reason for this, but I believe the Toronto Maple Leafs can find more goals from within, even with a similar looking forward group.
Here are two players who can replace some of the goals this upcoming season.
Two Toronto Maple Leafs Who Can Replace Tyler Bertuzzi's Goal Scoring
Honorable Mention:
One guy I would love to put on this list is Nick Robertson, who is do for a breakout season at some point. However, due to his uncertain future with the team, I have decided to keep him as an honorable mention. If he does stay with the Leafs, a 20-25 goal season is totally realistic.
Bobby McMann:
One player who burst onto the scene last year for the Leafs was undrafted forward Bobby McMann. After scoring his first NHL goal vs the Pittsburgh Penguins in December, McMann became a regular with the team for the second half of the season.
McMann finished with 15 goals in just 56 games, including a memorable hat trick vs the St. Louis Blues. A full season in the NHL will obviously give him more opportunities to score goals, but also to potentially earn a full-time spot at the top of the lineup.
Easton Cowan:
Easton Cowan has gone from a "first-round reach" to one of the top prospects in all of hockey. Not since 2016 with the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander have Leafs fans been this excited about a prospect (though Matthew Knies is close).
Cowan, who has just won the OHL MVP award, the OHL Championship, and the OHL Playoff MVP award, is well on track to being a superstar in the NHL, and he's not even 20.
With Bertuzzi gone, there's a strong chance Cowan replaces his spot in the top-six, which is risky but still worth a shot.
If the stars align, Cowan could be a Calder Trophy contender next season. But if not, another year in the OHL is never a bad thing.
manual
Regardless, the Leafs have numerous options to replace the scoring that Tyler Bertuzzi took to Chicago this offseason, and they should have no problem finishing near the top of the league in goals for once again.