22. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
THIS WEEK: 22 LAST WEEK: -
Even as a 30th-place team last year, the Maple Leafs were a middling possession team, so if they could maintain that level and start reaping rewards (ie. better percentages) from their dramatic skill upgrade ? including No. 1 pick Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Connor Brown and more ? because they still have decent support for those forwards with James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov spread throughout the lineup. Frederik Andersen and Jhonas Enroth should provide decent goaltending, leaving defence as Toronto?s most pressing concern. Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly are capable, and rookie Nikita Zaitsev might be able to make a major contribution. For Toronto to do well, they probably need the likes of Martin Marincin and Connor Carrick to handle significant roles. If they could, then maybe the Leafs could be surprisingly competitive.
Key Injuries: LW Joffrey Lupul (sports hernia).