Offensive Firepower at Forward
The Toronto Maple Leafs offense has long been their calling card. This year, they are not flexing their muscles in the offensive zone like they have in the past, but their offense is still still formidable. The team ranks slightly above average in many categories, but a significant reason for that is adjusting to new coach Craig Berube's style of play.
With superstars like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander leading the charge, Toronto boasts a deep, dynamic forward group capable of producing scoring chances at will. The potential is there for improvement in scoring at 5 vs. 5 and on the power play.
Matthews, with his elite goal-scoring ability, remains a constant threat, while Marner’s playmaking vision and Nylander’s knack for finding the back of the net make them one of the most dangerous trios in the league.
The Maple Leafs depth doesn’t stop there—guys like John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Bobby McMann bring additional grit and skill to complement the top-tier talent. All three of these players can score in tight spaces due to their size and net-front presence, a trait of more importance during the tighter checking that occurs in the playoffs.
Of concern, is the Leafs depth at forward, especially the bottom six. Max Domi has underperformed to the point where his contract looks like a brutal mistake. Excepting the three games in a row where he scored a goal, he has no other goals on the season.
The Leafs have almost no offense from their bottom six, and what offense they do have has to be spoon fed offensive zone faceoffs to be effective. This in turn forces Tavares and Matthews to play harder minutes and score less.