But early on as things started to take shape, the question ‘How do the Leafs score in the wake of Mitch Marner\u2019s departure’ rose to the top of the \u201cbig questions\u201d leaderboard from my co-host Nick Kypreos on Tuesday. It\u2019s not an unreasonable question, and one that surely Brad Treliving and Craig Berube put real thought into this off-season.<\/p>\n
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Real Kyper and Bourne<\/p>\n
Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne talk all things hockey with some of the biggest names in the game. Watch live every weekday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ \u2014 or listen live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN \u2014 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n
Full episode<\/a><\/p>\n I made the claim that I think the Leafs will again finish top-10 in scoring, a year removed from finishing seventh. I had a ninth-to-12th finish in mind, but it\u2019s talk radio, so why not go for it and bet on the high end? Watching the Leafs score against Nashville\u2019s back-up goalie with the Predators on a back-to-back with travel doesn\u2019t help us with conclusions much, but it did bring to mind some things the Leafs cannot do if they hope to make me look smart, and continue to score at a rate similar to last season.<\/p>\n I\u2019m talking about things beyond \u201cAuston Matthews<\/a> scores more,\u201d which is likely to happen anyway, if the last two games tell us anything.<\/p>\n So, let\u2019s talk about what those things are that will deliver the Leafs a top 10 offence:<\/p>\n No. 1: Don\u2019t give up on Matias Maccelli because the numbers aren\u2019t there early<\/p>\n Through four games now with the Leafs, Maccelli has no goals and one assist, which is about the least-just stat line I\u2019ve ever seen \u2026 right behind William Nylander having seven points through four games despite playing some of his least effective hockey in Toronto.<\/p>\n Nylander actually redirected a great Maccelli dish off the post, which came after Simon Benoit fired a great Maccelli dish wide, which came after several other Leafs couldn\u2019t capitalize on Maccelli-inspired opportunities.<\/p>\n Maccelli has been on the ice for the third-most “high danger chances per 60”, via Natural Stat Trick, among Leafs forwards, behind only Matthews and Matthew Knies<\/a>. By expected goals for per 60, he\u2019s behind Matthews, Knies, and Cowan.<\/p>\n The Leafs don\u2019t have a ton of guys who can pull a rabbit out of a hat, but Maccelli\u2019s one who can. His ice time was around 14-15 minutes the first two games, then down to about 12 minutes and change in games three and four. The Leafs cannot afford to get caught looking at results when the process is there, and that\u2019s saying something for a guy in a new system, with new linemates, on a new team under a new coach.<\/p>\n I know it went badly for Maccelli last year, but he\u2019s off to a good start even if the numbers aren\u2019t there. Keep playing him, and they\u2019ll come.<\/p>\n No. 2: Bobby McMann can\u2019t be the whipping boy either<\/p>\n If McMann could play like the best version of himself for 82 games, he\u2019d make $10 million a year. But he makes $1.35 million a year, yet seems to be held to the $10 million standard. When he shows a hint of not being at his best, Berube has no problem taking away opportunities and punting him down the lineup.<\/p>\n Now to be clear, it’s totally fine to demote guys who don\u2019t have their A game. It\u2019s totally fine, were that a thing the Leafs did with consistency across the board, but for whatever reason, it seems to apply doubly for McMann.<\/p>\n He\u2019s fast as hell and has a laser shot. Good players get the benefit of the doubt when they\u2019re \u201coff\u201d or when they\u2019re just not at their best. They get to play through it, because you can still contribute when not at your best. Yes, when he\u2019s bad, punt him down. But at this point, he deserves the benefit of the doubt on those so-so nights too, as he can break a game open even if he\u2019s been quiet prior.<\/p>\n No. 3: Morgan Rielly<\/a> can\u2019t be the only D-man who thinks offence<\/p>\n Two seasons ago, Jake McCabe<\/a> scored eight times, and that was about the low end of what the total could\u2019ve been. He can rip it, he can skate, and since the Leafs need the offence to come from more places, I\u2019d be OK with him taking more chances up the ice, particularly if Chris Tanev is going to be his partner.<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe back there pal, have a go sometimes.<\/p>\n Last year McCabe scored just twice, and they could use him to bounce back towards the season that saw him closer to 30 points.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/New-Gif-2025-10-15T131324.484.gif\")
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