Maple Leafs Establish Top Two Power Play Units Ahead of Season Opener
On the eve of their season opener, the Toronto Maple Leafs have unveiled what their power play units are going to look like against the Montreal Canadiens and beyond.
The Maple Leafs have carried a vaunted power play for several years after finishing 7th in 2023-24, 2nd in 2022-23, and 1st in 2021-22. This year, they are expecting more of the same with their man advantage, and who can blame them with how loaded both units look?
At today's practice, Craig Berube rolled out his two power play units, with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly reprising their roles on the top unit. Following them are Max Domi, Matthew Knies, Max Pacioretty, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Nick Robertson on the second unit.
The top unit remains unchanged and for very good reason. Matthews paced the club last year with 18 power play goals, Nylander came in second with 11, and he was followed by Tavares and Marner who recorded 9 and 8 markers, respectively. Rielly added 19 assists from point and Nylander finished with 35 power play points altogether.
The second unit takes on a different look this year with the acquisitions of Max Pacioretty and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Both veterans have enjoyed an abundance of success on the power play throughout their careers with the former tallying 80 power play goals and the latter combining for 186 power play points as the quarterback in Arizona, Vancouver and Florida.
Last season was a bit of a down year for the Leafs' power play, considering they finished 1st or 2nd in the two years prior. However, a top-5 finish is more or less expected with the quality they carry on both units. Expect more of the same this year as Berube and his new coaching staff look to iron out any kinks beginning with their season opener tomorrow night in Montreal.
