The Toronto Maple Leafs do not need to make a big trade anymore.
By Stephen Nixon | 8:00 AM EST.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have emerged as one of the NHL’s finest teams, currently on a six-game winning streak.
The reason for this surge came unexpectedly, when Morgan Rielly’s high-stick incident with Ridley Grieg not only resulted in Rielly’s five-game sentence, but also sparked a surprising turnaround for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Despite initial concerns about the impact of Rielly’s absence on the defensive pairings, the Leafs demonstrated tenacity and depth by being undefeated throughout his suspension and winning 7-3 over the Vegas Golden Knights when he returned.
During Rielly’s absence, the defense outperformed expectations, with each player stepping up to fill the void. While individually, the defense may have been below-average, their collective effort was crucial.
The revival of McMann has allayed fears about the team’s depth, potentially making external acquisitions superfluous.
The increased synergy among the players, notably the second-line combination of Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and William Nylander, has added speed, skill, and grit to the roster.
Although the decision to shift captain John Tavares to the third line may surprise some, his experienced presence and offensive prowess have been vital in anchoring the line alongside McMann and Nicholas Robertson.
With Tavares embracing his new role and Matthews, Knies, and Marner continuing to push offensive production, the Leafs suddenly have three formidable lines that include previous or current 40-goal scorers. The strategic reconfiguration has not only varied the team’s scoring threats but also boosted defensive solidity, with Tavares’ defense
