The 2022-23 NHL Preseason begins September 24th. NHL.com/de sheds light on the state of affairs for each team in advance.
In this issue: Toronto Maple Leafs
Video: The best of the Toronto Maple Leafs
It’s been another great regular season for the Maple Leafs. They even set a new franchise record with a record of 54-21-7 and 115 points in 82 games. However, as in previous years, they failed to impress in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While the season ended disappointingly again for Toronto, it was different from previous years as the Leafs had pushed the two-time Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning to the limit in the first round before losing to the defending champion in seven games .
The offseason that followed was arguably the most important of General Manager Kyle Dubas’ tenure. He was faced with the challenging task of restructuring the top-class squad in such a way that future successes will also be possible in the knockout phase without tearing the core of the team apart. The most urgent task was to fill the goalkeeper positions. Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek left Toronto and got through Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov replaced.
[Ähnliches Maple Leafs hoffen auf Bestleistungen von Murray und Samsonov]
While Campbell had an excellent first half of the 2021-22 season, his game fell off badly in the aftermath. Therefore, in early summer, those responsible refrained from investing money in his services in the future. Mrazek’s commitment had also brought them a lot of criticism last year, so the Maple Leafs also parted ways with him.
Toronto acquired Murray as a backup along with a third-round draft pick from the Ottawa Senators and signed Samsonov as a free agent after the Washington Capitals failed to make him an offer. It remains to be seen how Murray and Samsonov will fare in the future. However, since both goalies will not be tied to the Leafs beyond the 2023-24 season, the risk appears manageable.
With Toronto having their best regular season in history, and a goalkeeping performance that fell far short of expectations, it could pay off to bet on two players who still have room for improvement from now on.
But Campbell and Mrazek were far from the only departures, and the Leafs had to fill several roster gaps during the offseason without breaking the budget. After the departures of Ilya Mikheyev, Ondrej KaseJason Spezza and Colin Blackwell the Leafs will show a new face on offense. The squad planner committed, among other things Jarnkrok Street, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Adam Gaudette. They also settled with Free Agent Pierre Engvall for a contract extension for the 2022/23 season and brought in the Swiss Denis Malgin into the team, who wants to give his NHL career new impetus in Toronto.
Expected line-up at the start of the 2022/23 season:
Sturm:
Michael Bunting – Auston Matthews – Mitchell Marner
Alexander Kerfoot – John Tavares – William Nylander
Pierre Engvall – David fight – Jarnkrok Street
Wayne Simmonds – Adam Gaudette – Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Video: Matthews Top 5 Tore in 2021/22
Defense:
Morgan Rielly – Timothy Liljegren
Jake Muzzin – T.J. Brodie
Mark Giordano – Justin Holl
Tor:
Matt Murray
Ilya Samsonov
Scratches:
Denis Malgin – Nicholas Robertson – Jordie Benn
Top talent to watch out for:
Video: Marners Top 5 Tore in 2021/22
The Maple Leafs are looking for more depth on offense. Nicholas Robertson could have a role up front behind big fours Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander in the future. The 20-year-old will have a great opportunity to show off his skills at the training camp. Due to a series of injuries, including a fractured right fibula, Robertson only had 49 games (21 goals, 23 assists) for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and 16 games (1 goal, 1 assist ) for the Maple Leafs. In the 2019-20 season he scored 55 goals in 46 games for Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League. This year could finally be his big chance.
The most important question for the Maple Leafs:
In Toronto they are primarily wondering how the team will be positioned in the goalkeeping position for the new season. Can Murray and Samsonov convince fans as the Maple Leafs’ new goalie duo?
Video: TBL@WSH: Samsonov with a great save
What a challenge! Murray and Samsonov hope the change of scenery will boost their careers. Murray helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017, but the 28-year-old has struggled with various injuries over the past two seasons with the Senators and has a meager 15-25 record in 47 games (45 starts). -3 with a 3.23 goals-against average and an 89.9 percent save rate. Samsonov had an inconsistent performance with the Capitals last season, posting a 23-12-5 record in 44 games (39 starts) with a 3.02 goals against average and an 89.6 percent save percentage. Whether that can lay the foundation for a strong season with the traditionally critical Toronto audience remains to be seen.