The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a 2-1-0 start to the 2024-25 season. After being unable to find any offence in their season opener, losing 1-0 to the Montreal Canadiens, the Maple Leafs were able to ruin former coach Sheldon Keefe’s home opener in New Jersey, and then defeated former GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins to open up their own season on home ice.
There have been some flashes of brilliance and there’s also some glaring holes within Toronto’s game that need to be tightened up. It’s still very early in the year, but there’s a lot to like about a Craig Berube-led Maple Leafs hockey club.
Here are three things to like, and three things to dislike, about the Maple Leafs’ first three games:
Like #1 – Goaltending Depth
This season started as last season finished. Joseph Woll was supposed to start in net, and an untimely injury crept into the picture and made him too hurt to play. It cost the Maple Leafs in game seven of their first-round series last year, so far this season, there’s nothing to worry about.
Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby have both won hockey games before Woll this season, as the Leafs’ projected starter continues to work his way back, healing from a lower-body injury. Stolarz has been one of the Leafs’ brightest spots early on this season. Through two appearances, he’s posted an impressive 1.54 goals against average and .940 save percentage. The 30-year-old netminder has looked very quiet in net, very efficient with his motion, and Stolarz has been able to track pucks seamlessly throughout the offensive zone. Being 6-foot-6 certainly helps, and Stolarz looks every bit of it standing in the Leafs’ crease. He has a presence, and he’s quickly become a big part of the Maple Leafs.
The Leafs have a back-to-back next week. This week expect to see Berube call on Stolarz for Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings, and likely again Saturday against the New York Rangers, with Hildeby an option to play either on Monday or Tuesday of next week. Hildeby will be a stop-gap until Woll comes back, but he showed in his first appearance, that he has the game to be effective at the NHL level.
Berube was asked on Monday about the timelines, and it’s obvious the team is going to give Woll some time to get himself feeling stronger than ever before returning. “He’s (Woll) better. He went on the ice today for a while, so a good sign. He’s improving, we’ll see tomorrow where he’s at,” said Berube. “We wouldn’t rush a guy, no matter what, especially a goalie with an injury. We want him to be fully healthy. Right now, we’re fine.”
Like #2 – Bottom six has vastly improved
It feels like, for the first time in a long time, the Maple Leafs are going to have balance across all four lines, and a coach that believes in giving his bottom six a chance to prove themselves. Berube has always been a coach who played his fourth line more regularly than other coaches, and early on this season, he hasn’t shied away from it.
Steven Lorentz looks like he’ll become not only a fan favorite for his work ethic, but beloved by his teammates in the room. His outgoing, fun personality has been a welcomed addition in Toronto, and with Stanley Cup winning experience under his belt, it’s beneficial having a player like Lorentz in the lineup, who isn’t afraid to speak up on the bench, when the team needs to hear it.
Lorentz is averaging more ice time than Max Pacioretty, Bobby McMann and David Kampf, which not many people saw coming when the former Florida Panther signed a professional tryout agreement before training camp. The Kitchener, ON native has been a huge part of the Leafs’ penalty kill early on, and from all accounts, is going to be an x-factor from the team’s bottom six this season.
Pacioretty has also fit in seamlessly in Toronto, and with his skillset, gives the Leafs an offensive spark from the bottom two lines. Despite only having one goal in three games, Pacioretty has had his chances, he’s been given a look on the Leafs’ top power-play unit, and this type of versatility, to play anywhere in Toronto’s lineup, is going to come in very handy throughout the 82-game regular season.
Add in the fact Ryan Reaves looks a step faster this season and has been effective five-on-five, the internal competition is going to be fun to watch, early on this season. Toronto has Fraser Minten and Calle Jarnkrok, who are getting healthier, and we’ll have to wait and see who gets taken out, once both players are available to dress.
It’s also worth noting that the Leafs’ defensive depth looks vastly improved so far this season. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has turned back the clock and looks set for a solid campaign, and is a huge improvement over TJ Brodie from last season. Meanwhile, Chris Tanev has fit in like a glove with Morgan Rielly, Conor Timmins hasn’t looked overwhelmed and Jake McCabe continues to understand his role on this hockey club. But as far as impacts on the blue line, signing OEL has looked like a home run, three games in.
Like #3 – Marner and Matthews killing penalties
This is right up Berube’s alley, having two star players doing everything for his team to win hockey games. Ryan O’Reilly knows all about this from his days with Berube in St Louis, now Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are getting of taste of what it’s like.
Matthews and Marner have started on the penalty kill numerous times, so far this season, and it’s great to see. They both have uncanny defensive awareness, they’re not afraid of blocking shots, and there have also been some shorthanded scoring chances that come from this setup, and will continue to be something to watch this season. Teams have to be aware when Marner and Matthews are killing penalties together, which is a new, added wrinkle from years past.
After three games, Matthews is averaging 1:48 of ice-time shorthanded, meanwhile last season under Sheldon Keefe, only averaged 42 seconds, which was a career high. Needless to say, those numbers will be shattered under Berube, and when your best players are on the ice more, affecting the game from a magnitude of levels, the team is normally in very good hands. And, that’s the case in Toronto this season.
Another good sign early on is how Matthews is winning close to 60% of his faceoffs. He’s sitting at 57.1% to start the campaign. His career-best was back in 2021-22 when he finished the year at 56.2%. While Matthews is coming off a career-best season offensively, under Berube, his offensive numbers could dip, while his role increases.
It reminds me of when Steve Yzerman was putting up crazy stats in the late 80’s, and early 90’s. Yzerman would hover around 150 points a season, meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings weren’t having any Stanley Cup Playoff success. Yzerman made some adjustments, and put more attention to details defensively, his numbers may have dipped to 70-85 points during the regular season, but his impact was felt in all three zones. The Wings won three Stanley Cups under Yzerman’s leadership.
Dislike #1 – Power play starting the year 0-for-9
Yes, it’s still early, and yes, none of these ‘dislikes’ will be an overreaction, but it’s tough to see the Leafs’ power play struggling, with that much talent. Berube has begun to tinker with the top unit, as Oliver Ekman-Larsson has taken Morgan Rielly’s spot, meanwhile, it appears Matthew Knies will be getting a look at being a net-front presence for the Leafs’ next matchup against the Kings.
The problem so far? Keeping things to the outside, overpassing, and not shooting more, which Berube wants. The Maple Leafs coaching staff want more shot volume, they want early shots in the sequence, and they are looking for rebounds and ‘ugly’ goals. Toronto’s had a long history of looking for the perfect play, and passing the puck around the outside, until a cross seam opens up. No more overpassing. Shoot the puck, outnumber and outwork your opponent, and get a couple of greasy ones to get themselves started this season. The Maple Leafs have way too much talent to be anywhere but top-5 in the league on the power play. After three games, they’re dead last. Toronto, Buffalo, Anaheim and Carolina are the only teams so far this season, who have yet to score on the power play.
Dislike #2 – Timothy Liljegren Situation
Internal competition is great, but this situation is awfully odd. GM Brad Treliving signed Liljegren to a two-year extension in the summer and he’s started the season as the odd man out. For a team with cap issues, you can’t have a $3 million defenseman eating popcorn in the press box during games. It’s also not a great situation to have trade talks become public.
There have been plenty of reports about Toronto feeling motivated to get a deal done, but so far, it does not appear imminent. Liljegren looks to be getting his first shot at the lineup on Wednesday against the Kings and admitted to the media on Monday, that it hasn’t been easy being a healthy scratch. “Yeah, obviously not fun, not playing. I’ve been trying to come in, and work as hard as I can to get back into the lineup.”
In terms of what Liljegren is lacking in his game to win over Berube, the former first-rounder knows he needs to stick to a simple approach. “Yeah, I mean I talked to ‘Chief’, it’s about playing an easier, simpler game, and I think that’s it. Play hard and simple.”
Liljegren will look to make an impression once his number is called upon, which appears to be sooner than later.
Dislike #3 – Too many stick infractions
If your team is taking hooking, slashing, or tripping penalties, it usually means they aren’t moving their feet. In the first three games this season, the Leafs have been called for seven stick infractions.
It’s likely something the coaching staff has pointed out early on, as they do want a new identity under Berube, but it doesn’t involve taking lazy or undisciplined penalties. Toronto’s been good at starting on time, and coming out aggressive on the forecheck and driving defensemen into the boards, but it does feel like at certain parts of the game, they are letting up, and aren’t necessarily sticking to the game plan.
Look for Berube to continue to fine-tune the game plan and the structure of his hockey club, with more focus on consistent pressure and being more direct, while hopefully for everyone involved, taking less undisciplined penalties.
The pulse check after three games? Very, very positive. There’s a lot to like about this Maple Leafs hockey club and like any team, there are a few things that need some adjustments, three games into the season. It’s a long year Leafs Nation, there’s no need to get worked up about too much early on. That’s the Berube effect talking.
