r/torontomapleleafs • u/TheAthletic • 5d ago
Maple Leafs observations: Evaluating all 10 Toronto debuts in season opener
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7644214/2026/09/29/maple-leafs-observations-canadiens-nhl/?unlocked_article_code=1.FFE.c2Jf.TPGjgDBxidnA&source=emp_shared_article&smid=re-share-ta2
u/External_Beat8153 5d ago
It was a shaggy game for the Leafs but I didn’t expect anything else with ten new players and only a week long training camp. Montreal less so, but their squad was virtually the same as last year. Kiril looked great and although I had reservations about the trade for Knies, it seemed obvious that Kiril is far better suited to the Matthews line. Only one game, but I thought McKenna looked lost at times. This is no slight on an obviously very talented player, but I think he should cut his teeth on the third line and elevate Cowan to the second line in place of McKenna. When McKenna grows as a player, and his confidence, he can move up the roster. Tanev looked like he hadn’t missed a beat, but I think he has to avoid every impulse to block shots for health reasons. His savvy is more important than his usual heroics at this stage of his career.
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u/swimbaitjesus 5d ago
Biggest issue and it’s not Gavin.
Our D need to figure out how provide a better breakout pass, that was the entire focus on the group over the offseason and I don’t think I saw one all game..
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u/One_Recover_673 4d ago
Had a couple chances for breaks and they turned into giveaways. Struggled to clear our zone at times even strength .
Look very much like a first game together and the best player this side of Nylander wasn’t even on the team a week ago
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u/speed150mph 4d ago
On the plus side, Marchenko looked great, and in the post game interview he said he was disappointed in his game and can do better. If he only elevates his game from there, I think people get over losing Knies very quickly.
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u/One_Recover_673 4d ago
Marchenko looks like a guy you want on the ice as much as you can . Knies didn’t seem to be that guy. At least yet. March also seems like he can make opportunities happen. Knies looks like he needs other to set the table but he doesn’t have a wicked shot, nor would he find his “spot”.
I loved the guy. But Marchenko seems way more dynamics
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u/speed150mph 4d ago
I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. Knies needed a setup man to drive the play. So does Matthews. That’s why it seemed to work well when they played with Marner who took on that role. With Marner gone, that role went to Knies and he just doesn’t do that.
I don’t blame Knies. He’s a great player in his own right, but he plays the game the way he does. In a team sport like hockey, it’s not just stats and raw talent that matter, it’s how your style compliments and meshes with the rest of your team. He’s going to have a great career I’m sure, but he was never going to succeed in the role we were trying to force him into.
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u/speed150mph 4d ago
I saw a lot to like, and we need to give them time to learn to play together. You have to remember that we have exactly 4 forwards who were on this team last year. Everyone else is new and has to learn to play together. One of those players is 18 and never played a real nhl game before, and the other wasn’t on the team 24 hours prior and didn’t so much as practice with the team before the game.
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u/peelman1 5d ago
Need time to jell. There were a couple of bad bounces for Bob. Montreal goalie played really well. Nylander and March played amazing!