It’s 2025, and everyone will be working on their New Year’s resolutions, whether it’s to start working out or start a new diet. Based on the first 38 games of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs should have a few resolutions in the new year. The Leafs are having a great campaign in Craig Berube‘s first season as the head coach. They’re a top-10 team in the NHL and share the top spot in the Atlantic Division with the Florida Panthers.
However, there is still room for improvement within the roster and from individuals. The start of 2025 is a great way to reset any form of regression for the Maple Leafs. For example, for a good chunk of the season, Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson were in a heavy slump. In the first 22 games of this season, the two of them combined for just two goals, Robertson with both. Nonetheless, with a few changes by Berube, they were able to find their game and score again. Since then, they combined for seven goals in the next nine games. This provided the Leafs with some much-needed depth scoring.
New Year’s Resolutions For Toronto
Finer Defensive Play
Leafs general manager Brad Treliving stocked up on defencemen in the offseason and proved to be effective early in the season. However, there’s been a slight dip in their overall performances both offensively and defensively. For several years, Toronto’s D-corps mildly pitched in when it came to offence. This season, going into their game against the New York Islanders on Thursday, the Maple Leafs have seven goals from their defencemen. In total, the Leafs have scored 118 goals in 38 games so far. That means that Toronto’s defence provides about eight percent of the team’s goals.
For reference, the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team that sits in the middle of the pack, has 25 goals from their defencemen. They lead the league in that department, with Zach Werenski leading the way. The Blue Jackets blueliner is third in scoring among D-men in the league with 11 goals and 40 points in 38 games. Toronto’s leading defenceman is Morgan Rielly with four goals and 18 points in 38 games. In a season where Toronto’s scoring has been down compared to recent years, the team could use a step-up from Rielly offensively. Rielly is capable of putting up points as he did in the 2018-19 season. He scored 20 goals and ended the campaign with 72 points, finishing fifth in the Norris Trophy voting.
The Leafs’ defensive play has been solid all season. However, in seven of their last nine games, Toronto has allowed three or more goals. In the early parts of December, the Leafs were the second-best team in the league when it came to keeping the puck out of their net. Since then, they’ve dipped, and now they are 12th in the league. Therefore, the Leafs’ defence will want to clean that up going into 2025.
Stay Healthy
The Maple Leafs have had their fair share of injuries this season. At one point, seven forwards were unavailable to play, resulting in a number of call-ups. Currently, two of some of Toronto’s most important players are out with injuries. One is captain Auston Matthews, who has been dealing with a nagging upper-body injury since the preseason. He refuses to provide details on the injury. However, he’s missed 14 games and is on injury reserve for the time being.
Another big loss that the Leafs have to deal with is goaltender Anthony Stolarz. He has been one of the best goalies in the league this season. Stolarz has a .927 save percentage, second-best in the NHL behind reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Unfortunately for the Leafs, he’s dealing with a knee injury that will keep him out for a few more weeks. The 30-year-old received surgery back in December to treat a “pebble” in his knee and was ruled out for 4-6 weeks.
While it’s not always possible to avoid injury, the Leafs hope for more luck in that department in 2025.
Main Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
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