Maple Leafs: Five players to keep an eye on heading into the new season

The Toronto Maple Leafs thought they had solved their problems this past season when they finally won a playoff series, but a stomping second round exit at the hands of the Florida Panthers has lead to changes in the offseason.

The Maple Leafs are once again trying to get to the Stanley Cup. Despite the change at general manager, Sheldon Keefe is still head coach of this team and the core four are still all in Leafs uniforms.

So, heading into the new season, their is a lot of pressure on this team to get something done. Today, let’s talk about a set of players that can really make or break this season. Obviously everyone needs to be great, but there are five players who I think could really make this year one to remember.

Maple Leafs: Five players to keep an eye on heading into the new season

For this list, I am not going to focus on the core four, instead here are five players all in drastically different positions of their career and on the ice that can make a real difference for the team this season.

1. Matthew Knies

Knies got his first real taste of the NHL this past season when he played in three regular season games and seven playoff games before his season ended due to a concussion.

Knies showed promise during his limited playoff opportunity this postseason. He scored a big goal and registered three assists. He looked like he could be a real top six forward on this team and make an impact every night. Check out his first every NHL playoff goal from round two against the Florida Panthers, Knies went to the net and good things happened.

There is a good chance Knies will get to play a top six role this upcoming season, and personally I think that is a great opportunity for Knies to shine. He has proven he can thrive in the postseason, and now it will be fun to watch him play throughout the grind of an NHL regular season.

The former second round pick played for the University of Minnesota last season where he put up 42 points in 40 NHL games.

2. Max Domi

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed Max Domi to a one year $3 million contract this offseason. For Domi, this is an opportunity to play with a real contender in a bottom six role, after how good of a season he had last year, this is a great chance to go out there and win it all.

Domi shined with the Chicago Blackhawks last season. In 60 games he put up 49 points including 18 goals before being traded at the deadline to the Dallas Stars. With the Stars Domi put up 13 points in the postseason before the Stars lost in the Conference Final to the eventual Stanley Cup Champs.

Domi is a physical player who can shine in a third line role on the Leafs. I personally would like to see him center a line. I think he can thrive in that role and would then allow David Kampf to center the fourth line.

Domi is also someone who can play up in the lineup if there is an injury this upcoming season. All in all, he is one of the biggest additions the team made this offseason, oh accept the next player on the list.

3. Tyler Bertuzzi

At the start of free agency the Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Tyler Bertuzzi to a one year contract, adding a player from a division rival in Boston. While Bertuzzi making $5.5 million this upcoming season might be a bit high, he did score five goals and register five assists in the Bruins opening round series against the Florida Panthers.

The Maple Leafs top six becomes just a little bit better with Bertuzzi in the mix. He is someone who will compliment Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner perfectly, and there is a real chance the Leafs could have the best line in hockey this upcoming season.