The Toronto Maple Leafs now officially boast the 3rd heaviest roster in the NHL

After parting ways with Kyle Dubas last season, the Maple Leafs appointed Brad Treliving as their new GM. Treliving, known for preferring big and strong players from his tenure with the Calgary Flames, has left a significant mark on the Maple Leafs. Despite calls from fans for more changes, Treliving's influence is evident, as the Leafs are now one of the heaviest teams in the NHL.

The Maple Leafs rank are tied for 3rd in the league in average player weight, at 203 pounds per skater. They trail only the Boston Bruins, Vegas Golden Knights, both teams that have enjoyed greater playoff success than the Leafs over the past decade.

The two key signings this offseason, Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, are example's of Treliving style players. Both stand at 6'2, with Tanev excelling on the defensive side of the puck, while OEL is more offensively inclined.

Among the notable heavier players on the Leafs, Auston Matthews stands out at 215 pounds, making him very difficult to push off of the puck in all areas of the ice. Another player exceeding the team's average weight is sophomore Matthew Knies, who is 6'3 and weighs a whopping 223 pounds, at only 21 years old. He's already built like a man and can still build out his frame.

While weight alone isn't a predictor of playoff success, this new, more difficult to play against style of hockey under Treliving may pose significant challenges for opposing teams, especially in the playoffs. Hard to beat a team when you can't push them off of the puck.

Source: HockeyDB
Matthew Knies Statistics, Auston Matthews Statistics, Chris Tanev Statistics, Oliver Ekman-Larsson Statistics