The Toronto Maple Leafs overhauled their defense on July 1, with general manager Brad Treliving securing long-term deals for Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, along with a two-year extension for Timothy Liljegren.
As we approach the third week of July, things have quieted down in the Maple Leafs’ camp, but significant tasks remain for the organization.
While the Leafs’ forward lineup is weaker than at the season’s end and the Mitch Marner situation is unresolved, there are other critical tasks to address before training camp opens in September.
2 Tasks for the Toronto Maple Leafs Before the End of Summer
1. Address the Captaincy
The Maple Leafs went three seasons without a captain before naming John Tavares to the role for the 2019-20 season. At that time, the decision was hotly debated, with contenders including Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly.
Unfortunately, similar to his tenure as the New York Islanders’ captain, John Tavares has struggled to lead his team past the first round, achieving this only once. After five years, it’s time for a change, with Auston Matthews poised to take over. Tavares has been a quiet, hardworking leader, but the team needs a different approach.
From a fan’s perspective, Matthews has shown growth as a leader, taking accountability in media interactions and appearing more vocal and self-critical than Tavares. Matthews, now the best player in franchise history, should be given the captaincy to inject new energy into the team’s leadership.
2. Extend Matthew Knies
Rumors suggest that if the Leafs had offered Mitch Marner a contract in the $8 million range going into the final year of his entry-level deal, they could have secured him for eight years. Instead, Marner’s breakout 93-point season led to a nearly $11 million contract, straining the team’s cap.
While it’s unlikely that Matthew Knies will have the same output, it’s not far-fetched to see him score 30 goals. The former second-round pick just finished his rookie season with 15 goals and 35 points in limited ice time, rarely seeing power-play minutes.
Knies now understands the demands of an 80-game season, which will likely help him train to be even bigger and stronger for the upcoming season. If the Leafs utilize two evenly deployed power plays, Knies could see a significant increase in power-play minutes.
If the team doesn’t act this summer, there’s a risk Knies could explode in performance and demand a higher contract, similar to Juraj Slafkovsky’s. Acting before training camp could secure Knies at a much lower cost.
By addressing these two critical tasks, Brad Treliving can strengthen the Maple Leafs’ chances for a successful 2024-2025 campaign.
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