What Is Obvious About the Toronto Maple Leafs After 8.5% of the Schedule

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 4-3 after seven games, and some things are becoming obvious.

Oct 21, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) shoots the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Oct 21, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) shoots the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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9. The Joseph Woll bet was ill-advised

Look, it's not going to matter as long as Anthony Stolarz keeps crushing it, but the minute he turns into a pumpkin is the minute people start talking about the team getting a new GM.

The fact is, when you are faced with not only Auston Matthews' prime, but the fact he hasn't done anything in the spring in eight straight seasons, the easiest and most obvious thing to do would be to pay anything to pair him with an elite goalie.

The Leafs new this, they tried to do this, and they failed. They might get lucky on Stolarz and Woll, but 50% of that bet is already looking really, really bad.

10. Marner and Matthews can't play together

When he doesn't feel like he has to pass the puck to Matthews every single play, Mitch Marner is a 40 goal scorer in his own right with an MVP season waiting to happen. The sooner they are split up at 5v5 and on the PP, the sooner the Leafs will become real contenders.

11. Simon Benoit and Conor Timmins is among the worst 3rd pairings in the NHL

Everyone knows this, and the fact that this is a pairing and the Leafs lack a true number-one defenseman is the main thing that will prevent them from ascending to the top of the league. Of course, the team is well aware and likely working to fix this as we speak.

12. Its probably not that good if you're only 4-3 and your starting goalie has a .940 save percentage

The problem here is one of mathematics. No goalie can maintain that level of play, and sucks to know that you didn't pad your record more while he was doing it.

Of course, Stolarz is perfectly capable of keeping it up, it's just as Leafs fans, we really don't expect him too!

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