The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into the 2014-15 NHL season with perhaps more to prove than any other team in the league. The starving fan-base has long suffered with both teams that have lacked quality or those that have greatly underachieved. With a new team president in Brendan Shanahan and a only a few small additions to their current roster, much speculation is being had on whether or not they are ready to contend for a playoff spot. All facets of their game must come together in order for the historic franchise to finally put their money where their mouth is and reward their fan-base by winning more often than not. Here’s a look at how the Maple Leafs will ultimately look during this much anticipated upcoming NHL season.
Offense: Who Can Help Up The Middle?
What the Maple Leafs lacked in defensive ability last season, they were able to make up for it on most nights with their offensive power. Phil Kessel and James Van Riemsdyk teamed up to become one of the NHL’s most dynamic duos. The two scored a total of 141 points, including 67 goals. Although they will most likely be the offensive leaders for the Leafs in 2014-15, Kessel and van Riemsdyk are still without a very important piece to their offensive puzzle: a number-one center man. Tyler Bozak can’t cut it as the Leafs’ dynamic duo’s number one guy up the middle of the ice, and although Nazem Kadri swears that he is up for the job, expect the Leafs to struggle without a legitimate top-line center this upcoming season.
Defense: Things Can Only Get Better This Time Around
Not only did the Leafs’ defense let down their fan-base with their more often than not atrocious play, they hung their goaltenders out to dry as well. The Leafs’ defense did their part in giving up a league worst 35.9 shots per game, resulting in a basement dwelling 3.07 goals against per game. The additions of Roman Polak and Stephane Robidas should help the defense get back on track in 2014-15, and the fact that Dion Phaneuf is under immense pressure to perform after signing a contract extension last December, the defense should improve overall.
Goaltending: Can They Let Go Of The Platoon?
After acquiring Jonathan Bernier from the Los Angeles Kings last summer, most thought that the Leafs had finally found their number-one goaltender. However, Randy Carlyle had other plans as he insisted that James Reimer deserved a shot at being the top dog as well. Bernier ultimately won the job, and this is exactly what we should expect to happen this upcoming season. Carlyle has already said that Reimer will get a chance to be his number one guy, but Bernier’s overall consistent play will push Reimer back to the bench, and rightfully so.
Special Teams: It's All About The D
It’s no surprise that the Leafs faired well on the power play in 2013-14 while suffering mightily when killing penalties. The defense will have to pull their weight when they find their team down a man, as they will have to improve on their embarrassing 78.4 penalty kill percentage from only one season ago. The power play will inevitably be lead by none other than Kessel and van Riemsdyk, but may struggle to be consistent without a top-line center to pose a threat. Either way, it’s the penalty kill that must improve if the Leafs want to play a well-balanced style of hockey in 2014-15.
Outlook For Season: Same Old Song And Dance
As much hope that is invested into their team from some of the most loyal fans in sports, one must be careful in the amount of optimism they show for their 2014-15 Maple Leafs. Not much has changed in terms of what they will ultimately bring to the table this upcoming season. Unless we see a number of career years along with a few pleasant surprises, expect the Leafs to finish in pretty much the same place they did a season ago, on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.