For several seasons, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been desperate to find players who can provide consistent secondary goals. We know that star players are burdened, but there comes a time when you need contributions from players other than your stars to relieve that pressure.
While the stars will be your producers all season long, the Maple Leafs’ deep scoring has started to happen two games into the season. It’s still early days but getting this kind of production and impact early on could bring huge returns for a team where deep scoring has been an Achilles’ heel in the past.
Players Depth Difference Against Devils
While you would expect the likes of Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner to get on the score sheet, they haven’t this season. Although it will take some time for them to do so, the Maple Leafs are getting contributions from the likes of Max Pacioretty, Steven Lorentz and Bobby McMann early, as they got the offense to play for the Maple Leafs in their 4-2 win. against the New Jersey Devils. John Tavares is the only striker with a goal this season.
Pacioretty and Lorentz signed one-year deals after being put through paid tryouts and Bobby McMann didn’t have the best preseason and was forced to sit out the first game. All three had something to prove and all three made their presence felt, getting on the score sheet at the start of the 2024-25 season. Pacioretty hit the net and put home a loose puck, McMann scored from long range and Lorentz had a bad backhander.
While the Maple Leafs were shut out for the first time in three seasons against the Montreal Canadiens, they were able to make a positive impact offensively and depth was key. Here’s a breakdown of how the bout-six went for the Maple Leafs in two games this season.
| The row | CF% | xGF% | SCF% |
| Robertson-Holmberg- Pacioretty (two games) | 64.52 | 62.53 | 63.64 |
| Lorentz-Kampf-Reaves | 78.57 | 99.36 | 80 |
| Lorentz-Kampf-McMann | 42.86 | 79.43 | 50 |
Even though it’s only been two games, you can’t help but notice how well the bottom half of the lineup has played to start the season with their chemistry. This is the type of game head coach Craig Berube wants to see every night. The fourth line of McMann- Kampf- Lorentz scored twice and had many quality chances. That style of play is what makes them successful every time they switch to an attacking position; being tough on pucks, winning battles and attacking the middle with power. That’s how they scored the first three goals of the season, arriving in the middle of the field quickly and causing chaos in front of it.
Related: Maple Leafs Shut Down Devils, Former Head Coach Sheldon Keefe in 4-2 Win
If you look at the teams that won the Stanley Cup, they had a competitive and impactful bottom six that took advantage of their opportunities. Even if they don’t score often, the Maple Leafs bottom-six is showing signs early that they can make a difference. If they can continue this momentum going forward, it could be a strong point this season. Their pace, physicality and drive were all on display as they produced a number of dangerous chances.
Maple Leaf Depths Struggles May Be Over
The Maple Leafs in the past have relied heavily on the Core Four and lacked consistency from the bottom half of the roster.
There always seems to be a revolving door of depth players coming in with very little production seen last season. The Maple Leafs got a total of 185 goals from Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Tavares and Tyler Bertuzzi as he stayed in the top six when he was hit with a hat trick. Behind them, there were only 88 goals from other regular players.
Matthew Knies and McMann scored 15 goals which was the second most of the forwards. Knies showed promise with his shot and strong hands and McMann continued to heat up to hit double digits. Nick Robertson had 14, though he was in and out of the lineup. Calle Järnkrok who was injured for most of last season– and to start this one– had 10 goals, down from 20 last season. Max Domi, David Kampf, Pontus Holmberg, Ryan Reaves and Noah Gregor had single-digit goals.
That’s not enough scoring parity. Before the season started, I thought about the scoring depth and how it could stand out this season. With what we saw against the Devils and the potential of Knies and Robertson ready to step up in offensive roles this season, it could be possible. They have a chance to become the team’s second strongest goal scorers after a strong first few games.
As they continue to take steps forward in their development, the players in the bottom six also have the chance to get on the score sheet more consistently than last season and in the past.
Related: Marlies Dennis Hildeby’s NHL Debut Shows Flash of Growth and Development
Although it’s still early in the season, the Maple Leafs are scoring deep and impactful as they are the most dominant of the elite players. In games like the Devils’, where the stars weren’t at their best, the team needs to find goals elsewhere and do so.
It is hoped that this can continue in the future as the offense will not always appear in one selected group.
Statistics from Natural Stat Trick.
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