Maple Leafs May Have Replaced Marner's 102 Points After All
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
A new prediction on the Leafs season could make losing Mitch Marner something the team is able to bounce back from and could actually improve overall.
When Mitch Marner left the team in a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, it opened up an offensive hole that very few can fill on their own.
Toronto decided to work by committee by adding Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli to help out alongside Nic Roy who came over in the Marner deal.
How the New Trio Could Replicate Marner's Production
The Leafs have added more offense to their lineup, and it could make Mitch Marner an easy player to forget this season.
The Athletic projected that the three additions could combine for more points added than they lost, with a median range of 114 points.
However, the graphic does omit a major detail that makes this argument, although while correct in the fact, a bit lacking in the big picture.
Marner's 102 points last season were a big loss for the Leafs, but it was pointed out the fact that the team's offseason additions, Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua, and Nicolas Roy could make that up.
It should be noted that while these players are indeed replacing Marner's offense, they fail to acknowledge that Marner was not the only departure on the Leafs end.
Toronto also lost forwards Pontus Holmberg, Max Pacioretty, and Ryan Reaves, who combined for 34 points in total, making their roster in full going from 102 goals subtracted to 136, meaning a loss in production for their overall forward group.
No one individually is expected to replace the offense Marner brought, but have they managed to create enough balance to alleviate that?
What This Change Means for Toronto's Offensive Balance
The Maple Leafs are less top heavy without Marner, and don't have a replacement who comes close, but they've done very well balancing their roster overall.
The Leafs bottom-six had been lacking in overall offensive depth, and their additions do well in adding a blend of both offense and defensive intensity, and it could make the team more complete.
Scoring in the Leafs bottom-six should be easier to come by than it was last season, and will be necessary as the top-six had been too relied upon at times and relief will be necessary for Toronto's success.
The additions of Maccelli, Joshua and Roy were instrumental in creating a much more balanced and offensively savvy bottom-six, and if the trio can gain some chemistry quick this season; you're looking at 50-60 points each.
Toronto also has more forward depth that makes any injuries something solvable, although if a player such as Matthews or Nylander go down, they don't have a Marner to continue to get safety in production.
Will the Leafs be better positioned with what they've done this offseason? It will depend on how much a balanced roster beats a top-end one.
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