Let's talk about the players the Leafs acquired over the summer and what they've brought to the team so far.
The Leafs made some significant roster changes last season and throughout the offseason, moving on from a considerable number of players. Then, just one day before Game 1, they sent Steve Lorentz and Matthew Knies to Columbus in exchange for Kirill Marchenko, who is now sidelined with a week-to-week lower-body injury.
Personally, I think Knies was the seller in this trade, and I still believe it was worth it. Marchenko has recorded 14 points in 14 games, including eight goals. His injury is unfortunate, but it doesn't change that he has already proven to be a valuable offensive addition. Sometimes injuries are simply unavoidable, and I don't think this trade should be judged negatively because of one.
Darren Raddysh was another player expected to make a significant impact. Last season, the Leafs’ defensive struggles were a major concern, so bringing in defensive talent seemed like exactly what the team needed. With what is almost an entirely revamped defensive lineup, expectations were understandably high. However, Raddysh has recorded one goal and 10 points in 20 games. While those numbers aren't necessarily terrible for a defenceman, his overall decision-making has raised some concerns.
He often seems so determined to score himself that he overlooks opportunities to pass to teammates in better positions, particularly during power plays. This is becoming a recurring issue, and it's something that needs to change. Offensive defencemen are valuable, but knowing when to pass is just as important as knowing when to shoot.
Meanwhile, rookie Gavin McKenna has been one of the few bright spots in the Leafs' current situation, alongside William Nylander and, of course, captain Auston Matthews. So why does Hiller continue to keep him on the third line or limit his opportunities alongside players he has demonstrated chemistry with?
McKenna has shown that he can perform well alongside Matthews. If that combination is producing results, why keep breaking it up? I understand the importance of developing a rookie and not putting too much pressure on him too early, but there's a difference between protecting a young player and limiting his potential. At some point, performance needs to be rewarded.
Jim Hiller was supposed to be a fresh start for the Leafs after they parted ways with Craig Berube following their failure to make the playoffs for the first time in nine years. However, it's important to remember that Berube's previous season wasn't entirely unsuccessful. The Leafs had a strong run against Florida before suffering a brutal Game 7 loss. That doesn't mean Berube was the perfect coach, but it does make me question whether changing coaches was really the solution.
Even if Matthews hadn't been injured during the Olympics and had remained healthy for the rest of last season, I don't think the Leafs were realistically going to make the playoffs. By December, their struggles were already becoming difficult to ignore.
I'm not saying the Leafs are officially out of playoff contention. We're only six weeks into the season, and there's still time to turn things around. However, if something doesn't change soon, we could be looking at another disappointing season and another early end to the Leafs' playoff hopes. If that happens, I think serious conversations about the future of this entire roster and management structure will be necessary.
So, what exactly do the Leafs need to do?
I think the answer is simple. Staying healthy would obviously help, but injuries aren't something players or coaching staff can completely control. What they can control is their defensive play, passing, communication, and overall consistency.
A lot of these players are relatively new to the team, and they haven't had the same amount of time to develop chemistry as some of the established players. Unfortunately, it's showing. Passing plays often look disconnected, defensive coverage can be inconsistent, and players don't always seem to be on the same page.
Raddysh is a good example of this. His apparent desperation to score sometimes comes at the expense of making the better play. The Leafs need to focus on working as a unit rather than relying on individual efforts to generate offence.
And we can't keep putting all the blame on Morgan Rielly. He barely seems to get the ice time that would allow him to make a consistent impact. How can we fairly criticize his defensive performance when he isn't being allowed to contribute regularly?
Chris Tanev is another important piece of this puzzle. When he's healthy and on the ice, he can make a tremendous difference to the defensive lineup. Keeping him healthy and consistently available would be a huge advantage for the team.
Finally, we need to talk about Hiller's line combinations. This is something a lot of Leafs fans have been questioning, and understandably so. He seems to change the lines constantly, sometimes even when certain combinations are working perfectly well.
Why fix something that isn't broken?
If McKenna, Matthews, and Tavares are developing chemistry and producing opportunities together, why not give that combination time to work? Constantly changing lines doesn't give players the opportunity to build trust, understand one another's playing styles, or develop the chemistry needed to make successful plays.
At the end of the day, the Leafs don't necessarily need another massive roster overhaul. They need consistency. They need better communication, smarter passing, stronger defensive coordination, and a coaching staff willing to recognize what is and isn't working.
There is still plenty of potential within this team, but potential means very little if it isn't being put to use.
The Leafs don't need to keep reinventing themselves every few weeks. They need to figure out what works, commit to it, and actually play like a team.
