POLLS     NHL     SEARCH

TRENDING NOW


Official 2024-25 Maple Leafs lineup projections, featuring key summer additions

PUBLICATION
Mike Armenti
July 30, 2024  (10:53)
SHARE THIS STORY

Chris Tanev
Photo credit: NHL.com

NHL.com's Dave McCarthy has projected the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup for the 2024-25 season, barring any major changes between now and October.

The Maple Leafs did what they set out to do on July 1st; rebuilding the blueline with key additions in Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and upgrading in goal, replacing Ilya Samsonov with Anthony Stolarz. Unfortunately, after the money was spent on the blueline and in goal, it hasn't left much room to address any roster needs at the forward position, which may sting a bit after losing Tyler Bertuzzi to the Chicago Blackhawks.

As far as the lineup is concerned, it's looking a little more balanced than it did last season, having bolstered what was a relatively weak blueline, even without the addition of bulking right-shot defender Jani Hakanpaa, whose 2-year contract has not yet been finalized. Per NHL.com's Dave McCarthy, here's what we should see on opening night, as long as there are no additional trades:

Forward lines

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner

Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander

Pontus Holmberg -- Max Domi -- Calle Jarnkrok

Connor Dewar -- David Kampf -- Ryan Reaves

Defensive Pairings

Morgan Rielly -- Chris Tanev

Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Timothy Liljegren

Simon Benoit -- Jake McCabe

Goaltending

Joseph Woll

Anthony Stolarz

The assumption here is that Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten do not make the Maple Leafs out of training camp. Should one or both make the team out of camp, it's likely that we'll see a trade prior to the start of the season to open up a roster spot.

The most surprising detail in these projections, at least to me, is the Ekman-Larsson -- Liljegren 2nd pair. OEL had played on the third pair for the Florida Panthers on their Stanley Cup run and had his minutes heavily sheltered. Likewise for Liljegren, he was often relegated to 3rd pairing duty for the Leafs last season, though there is some potential still there for him to take a step. Many still believe there is another level to his game.

Aside from that, I'm not too shocked about anything we're seeing in this lineup. Some may view Bobby McMann on the 2nd line LW as a bit of a stretch, but McMann showed last season that he can be a consistent contributor and since John Tavares is not so fleet-of-foot, the speedy McMann on that line can really help with puck recovery and tertiary scoring, behind the captain and the always electric William Nylander, who is expected to really drive play on that line.

Training camp will tell us a lot about what we should expect on opening night, but at this point, I'd be surprised to see much deviation from what McCarthy is proposing here.

Source: Dave A. McCarthy, NHL.comMaple Leafs hopeful Berube hiring, Tanev acquisition help spark deep run

POLL
30 JUILLET   |   1555 ANSWERS
Official 2024-25 Maple Leafs lineup projections, featuring key summer additions

Do you think Max Domi will play wing or center for the Leafs this season?

Wing50732.6 %
Center57336.8 %
He'll play a bit of both47530.5 %
List of polls
Latest 10 stories
pub
MAPLELEAFSDAILY.COM
COPYRIGHT @2024 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TERMS  -  POLICIES  -  PRIVACY AND COOKIE SETTINGS