The Toronto Maple Leafs will begin training camp a month from now, and with it, a season filled with high expectations. The new head coach, Craig Berube, and his coaching staff will have their first opportunity to implement a new system. A system that will hopefully lead to more success in the playoffs.
Some Toronto Maple Leafs players will find it more difficult to play under Berube than Sheldon Keefe, but that is to be expected. However, I do believe that Berube will get the most out of some of our players. Players like Max Domi, Matthew Knies, Bobby McMann, Simon Benoit, and Jacke McCabe. As weird as it sounds, considering he's an elite player already, Auston Matthews is another player who could find that next gear under Berube.
As a team, the Leafs are looking to improve upon last season. Another first-round exit from the playoffs is not an option at this point. Berube expects his players to work hard on every shift and we all know there are a few players on the Leafs roster who could use a work ethic upgrade. For the sake of the fanbase, let's hope the players buy into the new system and find greater playoff success.
For a team that is creeping closer and closer to 60 years without a championship, they have to get it right eventually, right? Will 2025 be the year that the Leafs win the cup? Maybe, maybe not, but as fans, all we can do is hope, as for the regular season, will we get the chance to see a few players achieve career bests? It's very possible.
Auston Matthews Scoring 70 Goals
Auston Matthews registered 69 goals and 38 assists for 107 points last season in 81 games. Seeing a player score 60 or more goals in a season during the cap era is rare, and Matthews has done it twice. After being one goal shy of 70 goals last season, seeing him do it this season would be incredible.
(All stats from hockey-reference.com)
Along with Matthews trying to score 70 goals, he could pass his career-best of 107 points, which he set last season. As great of a goal scorer as he is, Matthews doesn't get enough respect from around the NHL. He is the best goal-scorer in the game right now, with three scoring titles in the last four seasons. Finding a way to climb up to 110 or even 115 points should garner a bit more respect.
If Matthews can stay healthy and play 80 to 82 games this season, and if he has the right linemates, I think 70 goals and 45 assists for 115 points is achievable. Another thing that could help Matthews is an improved power play under the new coaching staff. The Leafs power play has been predictable and inconsistent for a while, so hopefully that will change this season.
A more successful power play should equal more points for Matthews, and others. One thing is for certain, Matthews will need to find more ways to get open and create space. Players like William Nylander, Matthew Knies, Max Domi, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and Mitch Marner should also benefit from an improved power play.
Mitch Marner Reaching 100 points
Mitch Marner has registered over 90 points three times in his eight NHL seasons. He registered 94 points in the 2018-19 season, which led many to believe that 100 points would be easy for him to achieve. However, he has yet to reach that milestone. Marner has flirted with 100 points twice, with 97 points (2021-22) and 99 points (2022-23).
Marner is in the last year of his contract and has not received a contract extension. One would assume that Marner's agent and Leafs general manager Brad Treliving have had contract discussions, but nothing is known for sure. Marner is a highly talented player who seems uninterested sometimes. Maybe Treliving wants to see how Marner responds to playing for Berube before making any final decisions.
After registering 26 goals and 59 assists for 85 points in 69 games last season, it would be nice to see Marner stay healthy and try to reach 100 points. Marner can record 30 goals and 100 points if he plays 80 to 82 games. Like Matthews, Marner will benefit greatly if the Leafs power play improves. If this happens to be his last season with the Leafs, let's hope it's his best season ever.
Both Marner and Matthews need to be at their best this season. The Leafs have plenty of offense, but it starts with them. It would be amazing to watch Matthews score 70 goals, and Marner reach 100 points after both came so close before.