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3 pain points Toronto Maple Leafs still need to address in 2024 NHL Free Agency
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made plenty of noise this offseason. The club signed big-name free agents like Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Plus, the Leafs re-signed a key free agent in Max Domi. But for all of the interesting moves the Maple Leafs made this offseason, there is still plenty of work to be done.
Here's a closer look at three pain points the Toronto Maple Leafs still need to address as the team gets set for the 2024-25 season.
3 pain points Toronto Maple Leafs still need to address ahead of 2024-25 season
#3. The bottom six
The Maple Leafs are a top-heavy team with superstars like Auston Matthews, Williams Nylander and Mitch Marner. However, the bottom six depth players have been an Achilles heel for Toronto, especially in the playoffs.
At the moment, the bottom six have highly useful pieces in Pontus Holmberg, David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok. However, there isn’t much depth scoring to support the big guns. As such, adding more talented depth players will be crucial.
The main issue is that the Leafs are tight under the Cap. At the moment, Toronto has about $950K in Cap space. That’s not much when trying to round out a championship-caliber roster. The Leafs may need to promote from within, hoping that players from the AHL Marlies can make a significant impact.
Players such as Alex Steeves and Bobby McCann should be in the mix for roster spots this upcoming season. These players will need to step up, especially after Nick Robertson requested a trade. Robertson was expected to step up. But with him out of the picture, there may be an opportunity for other guys to show they can produce in the NHL.
#2. Depth defense
GM Brad Treliving made huge strides in adding Tanev and Ekman-Larsson. Also, re-signing Timothy Liljegren was a savvy move. However, the club is pretty thin when getting past the top six. Thus, finding cheap, depth defensemen will become a significant challenge for Treliving.
Again, under-the-radar moves will likely become crucial to helping the Leafs balance their roster. Treliving made a good depth move in signing former Dallas Stars blue liner Jani Hakanpaa, who is a big, bruising defenseman who should provide plenty of depth.
However, Hakanpaa is coming off a knee injury. Since there is no timetable for his return, the Leafs may need to find other depth options to fill in when injuries mount during the season. Expect Conor Timmins to play a key role as the seventh defenseman.
#3. Goaltending
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be banking on the tandem of Joseph Woll and former Florida Panther Anthony Stolarz. Both goalies, while young and promising, are unproven. Unfortunately for Toronto, this tandem was the best they could do after missing out on goalies like Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark and Juuse Saros.
While fans shouldn’t rule out an in-season trade, the likelihood of the Leafs making a splash on the goalie market this season is quite slim. The club will need huge seasons from both netminders.
Meanwhile, Matt Murray has been signed to a one-year, league-minimum deal. Murray spent all of last season on LTIR. But as it stands, if Woll and Stolarz get hurt, it’ll be Murray who’ll have to step up when called upon.
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