The Toronto Maple Leafs are a good team. On paper, they are built for success, overall, winning games in general. Which they have been as of late. However, the question that comes up every year is whether the team will be ready for the playoffs.
After a whirlwind of moves, the team's defensive end was built by acquiring players such as Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who have paid dividends for the team thus far. Not to mention retaining the services of goaltender Josoph Woll and adding Stanley Cup Champion Anthony Stolarz to the netminding situation. Which has not been a failure to date.
To be more specific, GM Brad Treliving is doing everything he can to secure a playoff-worthy team. But at what cost is the real question at hand? This comes up because the Maple Leafs management has done enough to procure a playoff-worthy squad that contains a portion of playoff experience in its arsenal. Other than advancing to the second round to bow out in five games, with some minimal players possessing the needed ingredients on the current roster.
Optimistic thinking for the Toronto Maple Leafs team
However, the Edmonton Oilers did an outstanding job making it to the Finals of last year's post-season of play and managed to take it to game seven of the Finals. The Oilers team was dominant during the season after the coaching change and gave the Stanley Cup Champions a run for their money.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team that is usually poised to play well in the regular season but does not seem to get together in the post-season, and it leads to game seven of the first round of playoffs to see if they can advance in most cases in which they have not.
Will this year be any different, and how can management ensure the team goes the distance to excel in the playoffs with ease, but of course, grit and tenacity to accompany their respective gameplay? This feat will define this year's team's character on ice.
By saying this, I argue that the Maple Leaf's roster needs to ensure that they have playoff capability to its regimen, or are they content with this year's squad as they are any other year without the experience added?
Questions asked that need to be answered for the Leafs' team
I have a lot of questions. I understand. In all fairness, this will be the test of the Maple Leafs squad down the stretch of the season in the final months, and what happens during the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline will reassure that this team is no joke.
As a fan, one would believe in the current roster. As an analyst, one would second guess the current lineup and suggest if changes need to be made per today's game played, even though the Leafs team is winning in an an orderly fashion these days.
If so, what type of forwards would you try to acquire, and for what price? There is a marketplace for forwards up to the superstar level who are available to the team. Would you, as a fan, make the slash for more playoff experience or be content with the roster they have preserved as of today?
This is the starting point of the team's needs, and however it is addressed will be the outcome of the postseason for the team in general.