The Toronto Maple Leafs have intriguing bounce-back candidates in various lineup spots for the 2025-26 season. A pair of veteran fixtures and two newcomers to the fold figure prominently.
If they all return to form, it will go a long way toward maintaining a balanced offensive attack for the team, despite the offseason loss of Mitch Marner, who was sent to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal at the end of June.
Auston Matthews
Auston Matthews accounted for 33 goals and 78 points in 67 appearances last campaign. He led the team in shots on goal (261), even though he battled an upper-body issue for the majority of the season. The 27-year-old superstar still earned solid numbers, but it was a step backward after he erupted for a league-leading 69 goals and registered a career-high 107 points across 81 outings in 2023-24. He showed flashes of it last season, including a run of nine tallies and 22 points in 16 contests from Jan. 4 to Feb. 8 and 10 markers and 22 points in the final 17 games of the regular season. However, he wasn’t the same goal-scoring machine he was in previous showings.
Matthews can light the lamp from anywhere on the ice, and his wrist shot has been prolific. Since 2019-20, he has led the NHL with 290 goals, including 165 wristers. Due to his lingering injury, he didn’t have the same zip on his shot last campaign. He was still productive when he was in the lineup, but a healthier Maple Leafs captain would be far more noticeable and would make a much bigger impact on the scoresheet. He has the play-driving ability to thrive with any linemate, and it helps that Matthew Knies has developed nicely as a finisher. The playmaking skills of Marner will be missed, but puck distributors like Max Domi or Matias Maccelli should fill in admirably until an upgrade at right wing arrives.
Related: Maple Leafs 2025-26 Roster Projection 2.0: Post Free Agency
If he is healthier in 2025-26, which will be one of the more compelling storylines to watch as training camp approaches, Matthews has a wealth of bounce-back appeal. He is too talented and too natural a scorer not to return to the 50-60 goal range if an injury is not holding him back.
Matias Maccelli
Maccelli was an interesting pickup by the Maple Leafs during the offseason. He was acquired from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in 2027, which becomes a second-round selection in 2029 if Toronto qualifies…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…