4 Hot Takes For the 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs Season
Here are four hot takes for the 2024-25 Torotno Maple Leafs season
The 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs season is right around the corner and fans should be getting excited.
Is it just me or is does this season feel like it's one of the least hyped Toronto Maple Leafs seasons of the past decade? Auston Matthews is coming off an incredible 69 goal season, yet we seem to forget just how good this roster is.
Maybe it's because this team has continued to haunt us year-after-year, but I haven't met a single Leafs fan this offseason that goes "I can't wait to watch this team this year." Instead, fans talk about how the regular season doesn't matter and to wake them up when they're back in Game 7 of the First Round.
And you know what, I can't blame anyone for that logic. Every single year, the Leafs seemingly find themselves in a Game 7, but not only that, it's usually against the Boston Bruins and they lose. That's unfortuntely how the script has played out since 2013 and we have every right to believe it will happen again this year.
Although that may happen, I'm going to look at this season with more of a glass half-full approach and hope that good things follow. As such, here are five hot takes involving the Toronto Maple Leafs 2024-25 season.
No. 1: Bobby McMann Will Be Sent to AHL
I hate starting this hot-take list off with a downer, but can someone tell me why we're so invested in Bobby McMann being a top-six left-winger for the Leafs next year? McMann is a 28-year-old with only 66 NHL games of experience and is somehow being treated like he's a sure thing, when he hasn't proved anything in this league yet.
I know the Leafs signed him to a one-way contract for two more seasons, but why does that automatically assume that he's going to be the guy? The team just gave Max Pacioretty a PTO, then also have Easton Cowan, Nick Robertson and potentially Pontus Holmberg looming as other options.
The one attribute that McMann has over those other wingers is his size, but he doesn't have the shot that Robertson posseses or the skills that Cowan does, so wouldn't it make more sense for one of those two players to jump ahead of him?
If that happens and then Pacioretty is a viable option as well, it could push McMann out of the line-up and back to the Toronto Marlies or on waivers.
I think McMann has a lot of good skills, but I wouldn't pencil him into a top-six position, quite yet, as I wouldn't be shocked if he's all of a sudden in the press box, more than he's on the ice.
No. 2: Easton Cowan will be Calder Trophy Finalist
I know that Cowan is only 19-years-old and we've only seen him play a few prospect games in a Leafs sweater, but this kid is exciting. After tearing up the Ontario Hockey League last year, there is no reason for him to return to junior and should instead be a nightly contributor in the NHL.
He's not going to be a point-per-game player like he was in junior, but if given an opportunity to play in the top-six, Cowan could be a 20-goal scorer and 60 point contributor right away. With the No. 28 overall selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Leafs struck gold with this pick and he's going to be an NHLer for a long time.
The one thing that is worrisome, similar to when Robertson joined the NHL, is his size, but he is shifty enough to avoid injury. At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Cowan is a little small, but he's essentially the same size as Mitch Marner and Marner has done a great job avoid injuries over his career.
Since Cowan is so dynamic and is shifty, similar to Marner, he should be able to stay healthy and contribute every night. Robertson is listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, but I think that's pretty generous, as injuries have piled up for him over the years. Then again, hockey is a dangerous game and injuries can be very random. Small players are not necessarily more injury prone.
Either way, I expect Cowan to be a contribute nightly and to be a finalist for the Calder Trophy, joining other Leafs such as Auston Matthews and Michael Bunting over the past 10 years.
No. 3: Matt Murray Will Play More Than 10 Games
Alright, now the takes are getting hotter! Remember when Matt Murray was one of the best goalies in the NHL? Well, I'm not predicting that he's going to return to that form, but I'm predicting that we see him in action with the Leafs this year.
I'm predicting this more on the fact that I can't see Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz staying healthy all year, more than than I think Murray will be amazing, however it's possible that Murray could be back.
Murray is only 30-years-old, but it feels like he's way older based on his early success. Injuries piled up over the years, which forced bad play, as well as a ton of missed time. However, Murray is seemingly completely healthy now after his most recent hip surgury. Murray mentioned that his hip, groin and back had bothered him for a ton of time, however after finally taking the time to recover and get those fied, his "hips haven't felt this good in a long, long time."
We all know that Murray is a good goaltender, but he hasn't been able to show it for a long stretch in awhile, and I have to think he's motivated to prove it to everyone this year. After signing a one-year deal with the Leafs, this contract is essenitally a "prove-it deal' where if he can show the NHL that he's still a good player, he'll get that next contract and potentially be a back-up or starter again.
Murray is most likely going to start the season in the AHL, with the Toronto Marlies, but don't be shocked if he's eventually winning games in the NHL by season's end.
No. 4: Toronto Maple Leafs Reach Stanley Cup Finals
I'm not predicting that the Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup this year, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they reach the Stanley Cup Finals. I could have gone the other way and said that they were going to miss the playoffs, but this team is too good of a regular season team, not to make the playoffs.
The Leafs newest defensive additions will really help and a new coach-bump will guide this team to the Finals. However, the biggest reason I think they can get there is because nobody is expecting them too right now. There is not a single Leafs fan who believes in this team, so right when nobody thinks it'll happen and when it will.
If you look at this roster, they're very good and are a few breaks away from winning a few playoff rounds. If Nick Robertson, Max Pacioretty and Easton Cowan can all of a sudden provide depth scoring, then the Leafs top-nine is as good as anyones. The one question-mark is goaltending, but when healthy, Joseph Woll has proved that he's a legitimate no. 1 goaltender.
As such, if Woll can stay healthy and stand on his head like he's proved, why can't this team get through a few playoff rounds be competitive in the spring? This is potentially the last year for the core-four, and by all accounts they love playing with each other, so there should be even more of an incentive to play better.
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As mentioned, I may be predicting the Leafs to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, but I'm not predicting them to win, and in the Leafiest move ever, they'll find a way to lose the Cup Finals and it'll unfortunately be to the Edmonton Oilers, as Connor McDavid lifts his first cup in front of his hometown team.