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.