Nylander's Streak and Free Agency, Critical Questions, and Marner's Demotion
Welcome to the THW Toronto Maple Leafs Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Maple Leafs writers.
In today’s edition, we look at William Nylander’s streak and what it means for free agency. We also talk Mitch Marner’s play, and some questions that the Leafs need to answer this week.
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Now on to the good stuff…
3 Takeaways From Maple Leafs’ 2-1 Shootout Win Over Panthers
November 29, 2023 by Michael DeRosa
After dropping back-to-back games to the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins, the Toronto Maple Leafs looked to end their losing streak and secure two points against the Florida Panthers on Nov. 28. After Evan Rodrigues scored in the shootout, the Maple Leafs thought that they were unsuccessful with their efforts. However, his goal would be reviewed and overturned, and Noah Gregor then stole the game for Toronto, thus ending their losing streak. It proved to be a whacky finish to an entertaining contest between two good teams, and here are three takeaways from the game.
Reliving William Nylander’s Team-Record 17-Game Scoring Streak
November 29, 2023 by The Old Prof
The start of the 2023-24 NHL regular season was good for William Nylander. Or, better said, Nylander was good for his Toronto Maple Leafs, and he entered the franchise record books for most consecutive games with a point to start any regular season. Nylander set a team record of 17 straight games with a point and made a significant impact while doing it.
In this post, I’m going to relive his journey from the beginning of the season to his last game where he registered a point. It’s a celebratory reminder of just how good this young player has become.
Maple Leafs Need to Answer 3 Critical Questions This Week
November 28, 2023 by The Old Prof
The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering a crucial week of home games at the Scotiabank Arena. The team will face tough competition. Particularly important in the standings, they face two key Atlantic Division rivals currently ahead of them. The week’s games include games against the Florida Panthers tonight, the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, and the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
This is a critical week for the team; and, there are several key questions the team must answer. The team is in a bit of a swoon and needs to pick up its play. Every gained or lost point will significantly impact their standing in the hotly contested Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Maple Leafs’ Marner Should be Motivated by Demotion
November 28, 2023 by Peter Baracchini
Night in and night out, the expectation– for any team– is that the star players need to be the star players. Considering the market, everyone knows that the Toronto Maple Leafs star players need to be at their best or the heat will amp up for those that underperform. Essentially, that is what’s happening now with Mitch Marner.
Recently, Marner was pulled off the top line in place of Nylander, a move that head coach Sheldon Keefe probably should’ve done sooner as there were warning signs to his game. With the demotion to the second line, Marner is getting an opportunity to turn things around and get back to the level the team needs him to be at.
Maple Leafs’ Nylander Needs to Learn Lessons From Gaudreau
November 28, 2023 by Spencer Lazary
William Nylander has been nothing short of spectacular this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His 18-game point streak came to an end on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, against the Chicago Blackhawks, which saw him register a point in every game since the start of the season. While it has been awesome to see, and you hoped it would have gone on for longer, the question that now starts to arise is, what will he cost to re-sign?
And, can Nylander learn anything from what Johnny Gaudreau went through?
More Talk Regarding the Maple Leafs:
* Maple Leafs’ Lagesson Making Most of Time With the Team
November 28, 2023 by Peter Baracchini
* Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Weird Game, Gregor, Woll & Hildeby
November 29, 2023 by The Old Prof