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Something Different Is Happening With the Maple Leafs' Roster This Year


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Charlie McAfee
August 28, 2025  (8:44)
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May 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube talks to his players after a Florida Panthers goal during the third period of game one of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

It seems the Maple Leafs are electing for more balance over boldness this season, as the roster changes show they're trying to rapidly change things in short order.

There's a lot of changes that have happened in the months since Toronto lost to Florida in the second round until now, from Brendan Shanahan's departure, to the Mitch Marner trade, to the acquisitions of Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua, Michael Pezzetta and Nic Roy; things are looking different in Leaf Land.

The Additions That Signal a New Direction

This new identity change is something that Brad Treliving stressed heavily in his end of season press conference, and it's something he's followed up on massively.
He found Craig Berube-type players to fit in the system, he exchanged pizzaz for passion, and is hoping the team can find a brotherhood within.
Toronto is going to have a harder time scoring goals, and they are going to have less offense; we just have to get used to it. Losing a 100-point All-Star always hurts, and it's going to be about working for every opportunity no matter how tough.
Puck battles, relentless forechecking, and finishing hits is the name of the game with Berube, and his new additions have the ability to play a solid two-way game and in the case of someone like Maccelli, learn to grow into a better and more physical player.

Why Balance Could Matter More Than Pure Skill

A big knock on Toronto was the team's lineup stacking, where they shoved all their stars on the top two lines and tried to overpower their opponents through sheer skill.
Now they have a lineup that has some ability to be flexible, and they can finally run the proper lineup they want with the right players. Toronto is still going to have a stacked top-six (regardless of who they need to add) but they don't need to rely on Max Domi or David Kampf to patrol things.
They have guys like Nic Roy and Scott Laughton, who fit much better in the north-south game Berube plays, and it makes things easier at times; Roy can slide up to the 2C and help John Tavares, or Dakota Joshua can be their second line power forward while Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson can flank Roy.
The lineup has a great mix of offense, defense, physicality, meanness, and a whole lot of attitude; something that's felt lacking in recent years.

What This Shift Means for the Playoff Push

If the Maple Leaf are going to be facing off against a team like the Panthers again, they are going to need as much toughness and mean-spirited players as possible who can also do some damage on the scoreboard.
The balance means that they can afford to move someone like John Tavares down in the lineup and allow him to potentially exploit some weaker matchups and get the tides turned if they need to; Roy is good enough defensively and is a very solid playmaker himself.
Craig Berube didn't have a lot to work with last season and often had to shuffle players in and out of the lineup, and if it wasn't for Max Pacioretty being as clutch as he was, things could have been a lot different.
The team has to realize that they work better as a collective than a mishmash of stars with some less than ideal secondary pieces.
Things are going to be tough, things are going to look weird, and fans are going to have to get used to this new look Maple Leafs team.
But maybe it wasn't All-Star caliber talent that could bring them glory, but perhaps this change of scenery is what they truly needed to put them over the top.
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AOUT 28   |   1122 ANSWERS
Something Different Is Happening With the Maple Leafs' Roster This Year

Who was the best addition to the Maple Leafs this season?

Nicolas Roy59152.7 %
Dakota Joshua23921.3 %
Matias Maccelli25222.5 %
Michael Pezzetta403.6 %
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