The Toronto Maple Leafs have played just over a quarter of the 2024-25 season and have been moderately successful.
While it would be simple - and easy, and populist - to say that the Toronto Maple Leafs have succeeded wildly since they have played so many games with a depleted roster but find themselves in first place, that wouldn't be quite true.
Yes, the results have been great, but the problem is that this team has glaring deficiencies and has had almost all of them papered over by insanity-level goaltending.
Since goaltending performance is unpredictable and fluctuates like mad, the Leafs cannot expect to get elite goaltending going forward. They might count on it more if either of their goalies had a track record of NHL success, but they don't, so they can't.
Here are some of the lessons I hope the Leafs have learned so far this year.
What the Toronto Maple Leafs have (or should have) learned so far this season
1. You can't expect to win without a 3C
After Matthews and Tavares, the Leafs centre depth is a joke. Pontus Holmberg is, at best, a 4th line centre at this point. Max Domi should never play another shift at centre and Fraser Minten likely isn't the answer quite yet.
As much as I love Minten, I think the Leafs would give themselves their best shot at a Cup if they could line up three top-line quality centres. Nazem Kadri if they could get some money retained would be nice, but the best option is going to be Trent Federic.
2. OEL not good / Leafs desperate for a Top Pairing Dman
The wishful thinking that saw the Leafs sign Oliver Ekman-Larsson and put him into the top-four is bordering on embarassing. OEL has flashes of his former greatness, but he's just not the player he once was and he would do infinitely better in the Mark Giordano role.
His 45% Corsi and the fact opponents are outscoring the Leafs 8-3 with him on the ice since Liljegren was traded tells you all you need to know. The OEL/Rielly pairing is hot-garbage and the Leafs clearly need a top-four, hopefully a number-one, defenseman.
3. Cap Space is Available
Max Domi at $4 million has to be one of the worst contracts in the NHL. Add in Kampf and Reaves, and the Leafs have over $7 million they could use to trade for better players.
There is every chance that Stolarz and Woll will continue to be a great combo in net, but you can't count on it. The Leafs need to be proactive and add the centre and defenseman they clearly need. They need to also find a way to play defense that doesn't complete stifle their offense.
They are in first place, but they can't take it for granted.