This is what the Toronto Maple Leafs need to add according to AI
A recent query on an AI-powered engine revealed interesting insights into what the Toronto Maple Leafs need to add prior to the opening of the 2024-25 season. While the club apparently addressed these areas, AI doesn't seem to believe management has done enough to ensure the team is ready for this upcoming season.
Three main issues stand out as the Toronto Maple Leafs major needs, according to ChatGPT. I recently went back to the AI-powered engine to ask it about what areas the Toronto Maple Leafs need to improve.
Here’s the lone question I posed: What do the Toronto Maple Leafs need to add before the start of the 2024-25 season?
The answer, while brief, speaks volumes about what AI thinks about the Toronto Maple Leafs most glaring needs.
So, let’s dive into the specifics of ChatGPT’s responses:
This is what the Toronto Maple Leafs need to add according to AI
Defensive Depth
No surprise here. While AI is far from an all-knowing oracle, it’s actually quite insightful, mastering the obvious. The first thing that ChatGPT underlined was the need for defensive depth. In particular, the AI-based response highlighted, “the third defensive pairing is still a concern.”
Third defensive pairing? According to Daily Faceoff, the third defensive pairing is Jake McCabe and Simon Benoit. Does ChatGPT know something we don’t? I mean, the McCabe-Benoit pairing is solid. That’s certainly great for a bottom pairing, but is there something that ChatGPT feels may be off here?
Daily Faceoff also projects newcomer Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Timothy Liljegren as the second pairing. Personally, I would make that duo the third pairing. But then again, Daily Faceoff seems to consider that the Ekman-Larsson-Liljegren duo has a much better offensive upside than Benoit and McCabe.
Now, here’s an interesting tidbit:
“Adding a reliable right-handed defenseman would be ideal, as the current lineup lacks depth and consistency in the area.”
Wasn’t Chris Tanev supposed to be that right-handed defenceman?
If we assume he is, then Liljegren and McCabe don’t inspire much confidence in that regard. As such, the thought made me reflect on how the Leafs may keep tabs on right-shot defencemen as the season wears on. A deal might be made if the club feels that McCabe is not worth re-signing.
Overall, I have to agree with ChatGPT on this one. The Leafs are pretty thin beyond the top six. More depth is needed if the Leafs are to seriously contend for a top seed in the Eastern Conference and then translate that effort into a long postseason run.
Secondary Scoring
This area has been a constant sticking point for years, especially in the playoffs. How many times have Leafs fans and analysts gone over the lack of scoring support when Auston Matthews and the Core Four get shut down in the playoffs?
Looking at how much focus was placed on Mitch Marner’s lack of production this offseason, there is little doubt that depth scoring is a major issue. ChatGPT made an obvious statement by saying, “There’s a need for more reliable secondary scoring, especially from the bottom-six forwards.”
We don’t need to win a Nobel prize to see the logic there. But somehow, the bottom six have been consistently overlooked time and time again. Players like Calle Jarnkrok and Max Domi should provide a solid bump in the bottom six.
But there’s more that needs to be done.
ChatGPT added this other intriguing insight:
“Players like Nick Robertson could step up, but there's still uncertainty. Integrating younger players like Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten could help, but relying solely on them could be risky.”
So, two things. First, the AI-powered analysis assumes Nick Robertson will be back in the fold at some point. In my estimation, I think he will come around. Perhaps Craig Berube can be the determining factor in Robertson’s decision to stay. If he does, Robertson deserves to get a look in the top six.
Second, ChatGPT is right to point out that Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten are the keys to that bottom six. Throw in Matthew Knies and Roberston, and all of a sudden, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a number of young forwards supporting newly anointed captain Auston Matthews.
On the whole, I think ChatGPT is on the money, here. The club needs to address depth scoring, particularly with young players, but having the right mix of veteran support (i.e., Jarnkrok and Domi) will help the club balance its overall roster composition.
Goaltending Stability
Let me transcribe ChatGPT’s short, but powerful response:
“The goaltending situation, with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, is promising but unproven over a full season. Ensuring consistency in net will be crucial, especially if the defense doesn’t improve significantly.”
There’s a lot to unpack there.
First of all, Woll and Stolarz are unproven. Perhaps going with a 1A-1B tandem can help keep Woll healthy while giving Stolarz a shot to prove what he can do. Maybe one of them runs away with the starting job. While that seems doubtful, it might work.
Additionally, AI seems to believe that the Leafs defence may not improve this upcoming season. From my perspective, that’s a very real possibility. There’s plenty of reason to believe that the Leafs could end up with a patchwork blue line once again if Tanev goes down and Ekman-Larsson crashes down to reality.
While we can expect a decent blue line, inconsistent play could leave these two young goalies out to dry. Of course, there’s a chance that either one could flourish under the pressure. But let’s be realistic. Leaving young goalies out to dry is not the most effective game plan.
I want to believe that Woll and Stolarz would work out as Varlamov and Sorokin did for the New York Islanders a couple of seasons ago. I wish that the Woll-Stolarz combo could be like the Jeremy Swayman-Linus Ullmark tandem in Boston.
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But let’s face it: The Leafs have a lot of work ahead of themselves if they want to make their current roster work well. The X-factor this season will be Craig Berube. I remember him from his days as a rough-and-tumble grinder. If that attitude permeates the Leafs’ current roster, this club could be in for big things.