If the Leafs have serious aspirations of winning the Stanley Cup in 2024-25, they need to find a way to improve their bottom six.
There’s no doubt about it. And quite frankly, everyone’s aware of it —even the team itself.
Simply put, compared to most of the perennial contenders around the league, it’s not even close to being good enough.
Having said that all that, the Leafs do possess several wildcards that could change the fortune of their forward depth in a hurry.
With training camp fast approaching, at this point, it seems very likely that both Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten will get a legitimate shot to crack the opening night roster. While it’s always important to temper expectations with young players, there’s no question both youngsters are extremely talented and have incredible potential. If – and it’s a giant if – they’re able to make the full-time jump to the show, Craig Berube could suddenly have a lot more to work with. On top of that, names like Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, Connor Dewar, and Bobby McMann will get a big-time shot to prove their worth. Needless, there will be tons of opportunity. Who will step up to the plate?
Never say never, but when it comes to Cowan and Minten specifically, that’s a lot to bank on if you’re Brad Treliving and company. The NHL’s the top league in the world for a reason, and the transition for most young players takes considerable time. That’s why the Leafs probably need to be proactive on the trade market – at least short-term – in order to address needs.
Bottom line: It’s still too early to make an assessment on the roster —one way or another. There’s a lot of time between now and the season opener on October 9th. Additionally, the Leafs could also choose to slow play the situation and wait to see how some specific players perform. Over and above all that, the trade deadline is always a great time to make some depth adds, so they could elect to go that route as well.
In the grand of scheme of things, yes, the roster’s incomplete, but there’s no need to rush the operation. At bare minimum, as currently constructed, this team should have minimal issues getting to the playoffs. Rest assured, there will be tweaks along the way. Unfortunately, and we’re all guilty of it, everyone wants change immediately. Unquestionably, with respect to this situation, patience could be the name of the game.
