Three Maple Leafs poised for a bounce-back year in 2024-25
There are at least three Toronto Maple Leafs who appear to be in a great position to enjoy a bounce-back year in 2024-25 after a troublesome 2023-24 season.
The 2023-24 season was chock full of surprises, both good and bad, for the Maple Leafs. Among the positives, we saw Auston Matthews become the first player since Mario Lemieux in the late 1990's to score 69 goals in a season. We also saw William Nylander put up a career-high 98 points in a contract year, which resulted in a significant payday for Stockholm's favourite son.
Not everything was all sunshine and rainbows last season, however, as injuries and inconsistency spelled disaster for multiple players on the team, including Joseph Woll, Calle Jarnkrok and captain John Tavares. All 3 of these players stand a reasonably good chance of righting the ship in 2024-25, with huge bounce-back potential for various reasons.
JOSEPH WOLL
The 26-year-old netminder was very solid for the Leafs during the playoffs, prior to suffering an unfortunate injury late in Game 6, which forced him out of the final and deciding Game 7 in Boston. However, prior to his stellar post-season performance, Woll was very up and down during the regular season, largely due to a high-ankle sprain that he had suffered during the season.
Woll saw his numbers dip pretty significantly below his career average, posting a 2.94 GAA and a .907 SV% to go along with a 12-11-1 record across 25 appearances.
Why should we expect a bounce-back year from him? Well, it's simply, really. Woll is an excellent young goaltender with a very bright future, and he'll be stepping into a starter's role this season in Toronto. Health has always been the biggest x-factor for him. He has all of the tools to be a game-changer and a healthy 2024-25 season will go a long way in Woll emerging as one of the NHL's premier up-and-comers between the pipes.
CALLE JARNKROK
Like Woll, Jarnkrok's downfall in 2023-24 had nothing to do with his actual play, but rather his health. The 32-year-old suffered two significant injuries last season, which limited him to just 52 games.
Jarnkrok is only 1 season removed from his best statistical season of his entire NHL career, having posted 20 goals for the first time in his first season in Toronto. It's a no-brainer that a healthy Jarnkrok is a difference-maker in the middle of the lineup for the Maple Leafs. Will he score 20 again this season if healthy? Maybe, but it's not just his goal scoring that makes him effective. He's also one of the Leafs' best defensive forwards and penalty killers. They're undoubtedly better when he plays than they are when he doesn't.
JOHN TAVARES
It's easy to look at last year's production and acknowledge that it was a down year for Tavares. The Leafs' captain was limited to just 65 points -- his lowest point total since the two COVID-shortened seasons and the lockout year back in 2012-13. As far as full seasons go, it was his worst campaign since his rookie year on Long Island.
Concerns of his decline at age 33 were certainly a talking point in 2023-24 and will probably continue to be a talking point as we approach his 34-year-old season, but are these concerns actually warranted? Some might say yes, but I'm not convinced.
Tavares' 2023-24 season may have been a bit of an outlier. His underlying numbers were still very good and he did manage to tally 29 goals on the year. His dip in points was at least partially due to his linemates not finishing their chances at nearly the same rate both at even strength and on the power play.
Why do I see Tavares bouncing back in 2024-25? Mostly because of the addition of head coach Craig Berube, and his affinity for North-South hockey. Tavares is a bulldog and has been for his entire career. Too much East-West play wasn't helping him any as he has begun to slow down. He was never all that fleet-of-foot to begin with, so a simple system of pushing the puck forward and playing straight line hockey should help Tavares, as there won't be nearly as much stop-and-go in the game next season for the Leafs.
Honorable mentions go out to Timothy Liljegren and Pontus Holmberg, who are both a year older and will receive blank slates under Berube and company.
Source for stats: Hockey DBJoseph Woll stats and bio, Calle Jarnkork stats and bio, John Tavares stats and bio
| POLL | ||
6 AOUT | 1036 ANSWERS Three Maple Leafs poised for a bounce-back year in 2024-25 Which of these 3 players do you think will have the best bounce-back in 2024-25? | ||
| John Tavares | 293 | 28.3 % |
| Calle Jarnkrok | 118 | 11.4 % |
| Joseph Woll | 520 | 50.2 % |
| Other | 105 | 10.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
