Maple Leafs Daring Predictions for 2019-20

The Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. In the offseason, Leafs’ management went to work filling needs and getting its restricted free agents under contract. Mitch Marner took a little longer to get under contract, but he’ll be on the ice to start the season. The core group of young kids like Marner, Auston Matthews, Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen and William Nylander have the potential to be together another few years. 

The Leafs acquired a number one pairing defenseman, in Tyson Barrie, which the team has been lacking for years. They had to give up Nazem Kadri in the deal, who was a solid shutdown center even with his suspension problems. The Maple Leafs decided to stick with Michael Hutchinson as the team’s backup goalie to Frederik Andersen. Leafs’ general manager, Kyle Dubas managed to get Johnsson and Kapanen signed to affordable, cap friendly contracts. 

Here are five daring predictions for the Leafs’ 2019-20 season:

1) Mitch Marner Struggles

This has the least probability of happening of all the predictions, but I still feel like Marner’s numbers take a dip this season. The 22-year-old is entering his fourth full NHL season and he has improved every season so far. Marner managed to avoid the sophomore slump, but he hits a bit of one this season. He will get knocked off the puck at times due to his smaller stature, but that doesn’t stop him from getting into the dirty areas. 

The reason for Marner’s struggles this season is that he will get off to a slow start. The forward will have his chances, but no puck luck. Marner will miss some chances by hitting the post and goalies will be able to make saves on his shot. He will pass up too many shots when given the opportunity and that will hurt him. The reason this isn’t likely to happen is he has some speed, which can force the defenders to give him space and back into their own zone.

2) Hutchinson Becomes a Reliable BackUp Goalie

Michael Hutchinson was acquired by the Maple Leafs in 2018 from the Florida Panthers for a 2020 5th round NHL Draft pick. He spent most of his time with the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ AHL Affiliate. Hutchinson was brought up due to Garret Sparks’ struggles late in the season. In his five games played, he was 2-3-0 with a .914 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average. The goalie seems to have better numbers when he played a little bit more throughout the regular season, and there is a chance that could happen to give Frederik Andersen more rest.

In the NHL, most starting goalies will only play between 50-55 games to keep them fresh for the end of the season push and playoffs. Hutchinson should get at least 20-25 starts this season and will see some time on the team’s off nights so he will get his work in. The goalie has some quickness so he should make some decent saves. He may let in a few soft goals here and there, but most NHL backups do that throughout the season. Hutchinson will get a bigger workload this year and it will payoff for him and the team this season.

3) Tyson Barrie Adds 20+ Goals from Blueline

The major addition this offseason for the Leafs was defenseman Tyson Barrie, who came over from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade. Barrie is a top pairing defenseman that the Maple Leafs have been lacking for a few years now. His career high in goals is 14, which he set the past two seasons. One reason he has never passed 14 goals in his career is that he has a tendency to get hurt at least once per season, but he will remain healthy this year. The defenseman is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season so he will be playing for a contract and will earn a hefty raise come summer.

He is mobile and knows what to do once he enters the offensive zone. Barrie has a good point shot and will use it a lot this season because there will be some traffic in front of the opposing net. The defenseman will see some power play time and that will help him get to 25 or more goals. He’ll use his mobility and shot to create scoring chances for himself this season, and the puck will find the back of the net.

4) Andreas Johnsson Gets to 70 Points

This is another one of those predictions that isn’t likely to happen, but that is why they are daring predictions and not probable ones. In his first full season with the Maple Leafs, Johnsson impressed, scoring 20 goals, 23 assist and tallying 43 points in just 73 games. Of those 20 goals, 17 came at even strength and only three came while on the man advantage. Johnsson will likely see time in the top nine this season and may even see some ice time with Auston Matthews or William Nylander. 

Johnsson just seems to be in the right spot at the right time when scoring his goals. He isn’t afraid to go to the net for dirty goals, whether it be a deflection or a rebound chance. The forward can also skate, which I think took some opposing players by surprise last season and that is why he scored so many points. Johnsson can spot teammates on the ice and will create some chances for them. The final reason for Johnsson getting to 70 points this season and avoiding the dreaded sophomore slump is that he has no fear of shooting the puck.

5) Auston Matthews Named Captain

Yes, this really isn’t one of those daring predictions, but rather a probable one. Even with the allegations surrounding Matthews, the Leafs will still name him the team captain when the time comes. It may not be when the season starts, but it will happen eventually. Matthews is only 22 years old, but he is the face of the franchise. He has met every expectation and has taken over for the team when they’ve needed it on the ice. 

If the Maple Leafs didn’t think he was the future of its team and the face of the franchise then they wouldn’t have extended him for five years last summer. The contract was worth $58,170,000 million dollars and has a cap hit of $11,634,000 per season. The kid is the Maple Leafs future captain, whether one be named before the season or in the middle of the season.