It's September and before you know it training camps will begin, followed by the preseason and the start of the 2024-25 season. It has been an eventful season for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they begin the new season with many changes to make them more competitive this time around.
As with any season there will be some gutsy takes, especially with the Maple Leafs. There's a lot that can come into play this season, from roster positions to breakouts and even overall play. Here are three bold predictions for the Maple Leafs this season.
Easton Cowan Will Sit Out Nine-Game Tryout
One of the biggest stories coming into training camp will be how big of a step Easton Cowan can take after impressing in the preseason last year and an MVP season in the Ontario Hockey League. He revealed that he felt confident during the Maple Leafs development camp as he was their best player. His goal is to make the team and there is a chance for him to do so.
Maple Lafs is in need of some help on the left side. There will be a top six race that could include Max Domi, Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann. If Domi is used as a center, there is no doubt that it will be up to the younger players to take a big step. Let's not forget that Nick Robertson asked for a trade, even if there is an opportunity for him. Cowan is very focused on the NHL and if his confidence continues, he won't be able to just get a nine-game tryout. He can become a full-time NHLer and stay with the team.
There is debate about whether or not Cowan should stay. It might be okay as he continues to develop and going down the ranks won't be as helpful. If he does succeed, the expectations should be reasonable as he will be a young player in a competitive league. He has the motor and performance qualities, the skill, the drive and the defensive game that can be an asset.
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If he can hold his own at the NHL level and make a big impact on the ice, then he deserves to sit out the first few weeks of the 2024-25 season.
Matthew Knies will score 30 goals, 60 points
It was a period of adjustment for Matthew Knies in his rookie season, but it was one where there was improvement and growth in his game. Knies finished seventh in points among rookies with 35 and 15 goals. In addition, his 33 even-strength points were third last season behind only Connor Bedard and Marco Rossi.
Given the potential for a top spot this season, it definitely has Knies' name to be a top-six producer with his forward play and playing with two of the Maple Leafs' star players. As a result, it can score 30 points, 60 points. Last season when he was with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner or Matthews and William Nylander, Knies was the main reason why they got the results they did consecutively. Here is the breakdown by MoneyPuck With Knies on the top line with a 100 minute minimum.
| The row | Goals% | 60 Goals each |
| Knies-Matthews-Marner | 65.7% | 3.41 |
| Knies-Matthews-Nylander | 54.5% | 3.06 |
It's clear that Knies has a bigger role whenever he's in left field next to Matthews or Marner or Nylander. When Knies was on the ice at 5-on-five, the Maple Leafs had a 56.25 GF% and a career-high 57.41 dangerous percentage. If he's going to be a mainstay as a quality player, Knies will have to use more minutes, opportunities and improve production when playing against top players. He could also see himself on the power play and increase those numbers to improve his offensive production.
Knies has shown quickly that he can be a long-term player if it matters in the postseason. If he can handle the big moments in crunch time, he is definitely poised to be a great offensive producer and can handle minutes on the top line.
Maple Leafs Defense Is Better Equipped This Season
The Maple Leafs entered 2023-24 with a different mindset on defense. They wanted to add more to the case with John Klingberg, but in the end, it was a failed experiment. As a result, the defense and the goals against it took a hit. Whether it was a poor start from scoring, pitching or missed assignments, the Maple Leafs defense was their Achilles heel. The numbers speak for themselves.
| Section | Result (Level) |
| Shots Against Each Game | 29.8 (17th) |
| Opposite Terms | 261 (21st) |
| 5v5 Opposing Goals | 168 (19th) |
| Goals Against per Game | 3.18 (21St) |
| The Penalty Kill | 76.9% (23rd) |
| PK Goals Against | 55 (22n.d) |
Whether at 5v5 or on the penalty kill, the Maple Leafs struggled last season. They were in the bottom position in the categories listed above and were the team that entered the playoffs with 102 points. It was a recipe for another early playoff exit, and it was also the result of no offense. That was last season and with some defensive adjustments, there seems to be more balance on both offense and defense this season.
Related: 3 Reasons for Maple Leafs Optimism in 2024-25
Although he is 34 years old and his contract takes him until he is 40 years old, Chris Tanev is still one of the premiers, locking defenders in the game. He may not be overly physical, but he is very smart in defending the rush and closing things down inside his end. He can target lanes and keep pucks from finding the net as he had 207, tied for third last season. He has performed well since being acquired by the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline and has appeared in the playoffs. He is the perfect partner for Morgan Rielly as he can run on the offensive side of things, but still provide a presence on his end.
Oliver Ekman Larsson has brought his offensive game, but he has shown to improve his defensive game as well as he is generally stable. He looked confident on both sides of the puck last season and was a key part of the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup run as a four-to-six defender. If he can handle the secondary duties of pairing with Jake McCabe, that will give the Maple Leafs another balanced pairing as McCabe is a two-way guy and Ekman Larsson has a lot of offensive sense.
And in goal – despite their lack of experience – the Maple Leafs seem poised to have a decent tandem as both Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz have shown they can keep the puck in the net. Stolarz had the best save percentage of .925 in the regular season and Woll had one of .964 in the postseason. With a balanced defense and a tandem of goals, the results could be better.
There are many things to look out for when entering a camp that can cause a lot of noise in terms of guesswork. However, these three are the ones that stand out as they can have a big impact on the roster this season. Will they be fulfilled? Only time will tell.
Statistics from MoneyPuck, Natural Stat Trick and NHL.
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