"And while at present time the Maple Leafs are sitting in a position where they might get use their top five pick protected first round selection in this draft after all (not a bad outcome at all), the Maple Leafs are also only four points back of the final lottery team in the East at the moment, and throwing in the towel is premature."
"From a pessimist's perspective, there are reasons to believe that Leafs will improve. Auston Matthews, Chris Tanev, and Anthony Stolarz will eventually return to the club and whether you've been enamoured with Scott Laughton or Brandon Carlo or not, the upgrade over Sammy Blais and Dakota Mermis shouldn't be debatable either. From a health standpoint, good players are coming, but that doesn't mean who is in the lineup right now will be healthy."
"There is also reason to believe that Easton Cowan will get more comfortable in the NHL, there is a likelihood that players like Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, Troy Stecher, Matias Maccelli, and the previously mentioned Carlo and Laughton will adapt to what Craig Berube is coaching. The Leafs very well could improve, though the same can be said for every other team in the NHL too."
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a losing record at the quarter mark and new acquisitions have largely underperformed. The team may still secure their top-five protected first-round pick, yet they remain only four points back of the last East lottery spot. Injuries will bring Auston Matthews, Chris Tanev, and Anthony Stolarz back, improving health and roster quality. Several younger and recent additions such as Easton Cowan, Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, and Matias Maccelli could adapt to the coaching system and improve. The Leafs face a difficult remaining schedule with 36 of 61 games on the road and poor shot-differential metrics.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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