Maple Leafs Depth Options, Young Guns, and a Big Win Over Jets

Who are the Maple Leafs scouting and what do they need?

Welcome to the THW Toronto Maple Leafs Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Maple Leafs writers.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into the All-Star Break with some clear needs and having struck up a few conversations with other teams. It’s a balance between what they have, what’s coming up the pipeline, and what’s available that matters as they talk over the next few days.

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Now on to the good stuff…

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Maple Leafs’ 2024 Trade Deadline Targets: Secondary Scoring

January 28, 2024 by Spencer Lazary

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a very unique situation this season. They are right in the hunt for a playoff spot, but unlike last year, they will have to put in more effort to get there. This past offseason, they lost some key pieces to the team that had a lasting effect on the group’s morale. We in the sports world like to call them “glue guys,” but one that comes to mind that left was Alex Kerfoot. He was one of those players who, although he didn’t contribute a ton on the score sheet, was loved in the room. Sometimes this can impact a team’s morale a ton, which has been evident this season.

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Maple Leafs Finish Off Home-and-Home Sweep of Jets

January 28, 2024 by Spencer Lazary

The Maple Leafs took the first game on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, beating the Jets 1-0 in overtime (OT). The Maple Leafs also took the second game, 4-2. This game was fast-paced and very entertaining. Personally, these two games between these two teams were ones that I had circled since the beginning of the season. I love when these two teams meet; the games are fun to watch and physical. With only 11.8 seconds left, the Jets scored, and Nino Niederreiter and Jake McCabe got into it after battling all night. This caused a scrum where all five players on both teams paired off, but no one dropped the gloves. You still love to see this, especially between these two clubs. With that, let’s get into three key takeaways from the game. 

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3 Maple Leafs’ Trade Targets From Senators-Canadiens Game

January 28, 2024 by Andrew Forbes

It’s not the first time this season — and it won’t be the last — that representatives from teams take in other games around the league as scouting ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline heats up.

After a team rep was at the game between the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers on January 20, the Toronto Maple Leafs had two representatives at the game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on January 23 in Montreal.

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Maple Leafs’ Youngsters Starting to Show Value

January 27, 2024 by Peter Baracchini

As we’re just past the half way point of the season, 2023-24 has been one that the Toronto Maple Leafs would like to right the wrong. They expected to be a little more consistent in regards to their overall play, but the struggles persist and it’s forced them to re-evaluate how they approach the trade deadline. 

While this season hasn’t been short on storylines, the play and impact they have got from their entry-level contract players has been flying under the radar. Head coach Sheldon Keefe has stated that he needs the players to show who he can rely on. At certain points throughout the season and even after those comments, Pontus Holmberg, Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson have answered the call. In a season where some veterans haven’t played well, they’ve shown that they can elevate their play.  

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