5 shocking predictions for the Toronto Maple Leafs 2024-25 NHL season
By Edward Eng
The Toronto Maple Leafs had made many moves during the past offseason to help prepare themselves for the upcoming 2024-25 NHL season.
The moves ranging from coaching changes to player changes at the forward, defense and goalie positions all took place in a span of a few months for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With the top of their roste, at least, all set as training camp is set to open soon, it makes one wonder how will the team perform in the coming months?
In that regard, let’s take a look at five bold predictions for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they prepare to begin their 2024-25 season in search of Lord Stanley’s Mug.
5 shocking predictions for the Toronto Maple Leafs 2024-25 NHL season
Morgan Rielly will surpass 80 points for the first time in his career
Morgan Rielly has always shown the potential to become an elite defenseman in the league. But very often, it just felt he was held back at times based on the defensive pairing he was dealt with. He was at his best when he was once paired with the veteran Ron Hainsey, as he ended up posting career bests in goals with 20 and points with 72 during the 2018-19 season. From that experience, it appeared as though Rielly was most prolific when paired with a quality stay-at-home defensive partner.
With the Maple Leafs signing perhaps one of the best defensive defenseman in the league in Chris Tanev this offseason, they may have inadvertently killed two birds with one stone. For one, Tanev will no doubt provide tough quality minutes against the opposing teams’ top lines game in and game out. Secondly, if the Leafs end up pairing him up with Rielly, which is already highly expected, it could unleash a never-seen-before Rielly for the 2024-24 season.
If Rielly had so much success during his time with Hainsey as his partner, then with Tanev being younger and that much better than Hainsey in his prime, Rielly should be virtually unstoppable with Tanev now. Therefore, look for Rielly to surpass the 80-point threshold this upcoming season and with any luck, may even hit 90 if everything falls into place.