"Toronto Maple Leafs fans should be realistic about what they should expect this season. Much of the offseason chatter has been that the club will regress following Mitch Marner's departure. Sure, there may be some truth to that. The Leafs offense will definitely take a hit without Marner taking 5-on-5 shifts and playing power play minutes. But he wasn't a difference-maker like other superstars. It wasn't like Marner willed the Leafs to a playoff spot or carried the club throughout the playoffs."
"So, Marner's departure aside, the Leafs' offense may regress somewhat. But that doesn't mean the Leafs will all of a sudden struggle to make the playoffs. What we could see if the club take a page out of the Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning's playbook. They'll work hard to make the playoffs. But the goal won't be to win the division. The goal will be to get in."
Mitch Marner's departure will reduce Toronto's offense, particularly at 5-on-5 and on the power play. Marner did not single-handedly carry the team to playoff berths or through playoff series. The Leafs can still qualify for the playoffs despite offensive regression. The club may adopt a strategy of securing a playoff spot first, then maximizing performance in April and the postseason, similar to Florida and Tampa Bay. Regular season results should be steady, with a projected top-three Atlantic finish. Multiple favorable factors must align for a deep Stanley Cup run to occur.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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