One notable new face in the Maple Leafs lineup is Chris Tanev. The 34-year-old defenseman was acquired in a trade with the Dallas Stars at the end of June and signed a six-year, $27 million contract on July 1st. Known for his physical presence and steady play, Tanev also isn’t afraid to drop the gloves when necessary. Last season, Tanev played 75 games with the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars, contributing two goals and 17 assists. He is expected to join Morgan Rielly on the first defensive pairing.
Another significant addition is Stanley Cup champion Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who signed a four-year contract with the Leafs on July 1st, just days after winning the Cup with the Florida Panthers. The 33-year-old defenseman had an outstanding season with the Panthers, scoring nine goals and adding 23 assists in 80 games. He also contributed six points during the Panthers’ playoff run. Ekman-Larsson, known for his power-play skills, with a career total of 186 man-advantage points, is expected to pair with Timothy Liljegren on the second defensive line.
Rounding out the defense are Simon Benoit and Jake McCabe, who are projected to form the third pairing and play key roles on the penalty kill.
In goal, Joseph Woll is anticipated to start as the Leafs’ number one, but if he struggles, another new face, Anthony Stolarz, could take over. Stolarz, also fresh off a Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers, signed a two-year contract with the Leafs on July 1st. The 30-year-old goaltender had a strong season, finishing with a 16-7-2 record, a 2.03 GAA, and a .925 save percentage, including two shutouts as Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup.
Offensively, the Leafs haven’t made many changes, as General Manager Brad Treliving focused on bolstering the blue line during the offseason. Scoring hasn’t been a problem for the Leafs, but defensive issues have plagued the team, so the hope is that a more solid defense will allow the offensive stars to thrive.
The top line is expected to feature the familiar duo of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, who combined for 95 goals and 192 points last season. However, the surprise comes in the form of their potential new linemate, Matthew Knies. Despite some criticism of his performance last season, where he posted 35 points in 80 games, Knies is expected to start on the top line with Matthews and Marner. New head coach Craig Berube, another fresh face for the Leafs, will be tasked with getting the most out of Knies.
The rest of the forward group remains largely unchanged from last season, with the notable exception of Tyler Bertuzzi’s departure. While Bertuzzi’s absence will be felt, the Leafs are optimistic that some of their younger players will step up to fill the void.
Here’s the projected lineup according to NHL.com:
Projected Lineup:
- Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
- Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander
- Pontus Holmberg — Max Domi — Calle Jarnkrok
- Connor Dewar — David Kampf — Ryan Reaves
Defense:
- Morgan Rielly — Chris Tanev
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Timothy Liljegren
- Simon Benoit — Jake McCabe
Goalies:
- Joseph Woll
- Anthony Stolarz
With these changes, the Maple Leafs are hopeful that the addition of Tanev and the hiring of Berube will help spark a deep playoff run.
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