As the next season approaches, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves lacking depth at the left wing position, leaving general manager Brad Treliving in a challenging situation.
Tyler Bertuzzi led all Leafs left wingers in average ice time last season, playing over 16 minutes per game. However, he signed a one-year contract with the team and Treliving couldn’t retain him, resulting in a significant gap at the top of the roster. The remaining options include mostly rookies and less experienced players, with Matthew Knies having the second-highest ice time among dedicated left wingers last season. One fan suggested that top prospect Easton Cowan could step in for Bertuzzi in a top-six role, while new free-agent signing Connor Dewar could take over Gregor’s spot.
While this idea seems straightforward, relying on Cowan to immediately replicate Bertuzzi’s production in his rookie season would be placing a heavy burden on him, particularly since he wasn’t anticipated to join the NHL so soon until he surprised everyone last pre-season with how well-prepared he appeared.
In addition, a fan has highlighted the challenge of finding a replacement for Nick Robertson. It seems increasingly unlikely that Robertson will return as he remains firm on his desire to be traded. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun shared that a trade is not imminent and Robertson is becoming frustrated while maintaining his fitness during the offseason. If Robertson is eventually traded, the Leafs may consider Matthew Knies, Easton Cowan, Bobby McMann, and Connor Dewar as their top left wingers. Despite the Leafs’ strong forward lineup elsewhere, these options may not instill much confidence in fans due to their limited NHL experience and points. Dewar accounts for a significant portion of those stats and is likely to play on the fourth line. The question remains whether the Leafs can succeed with inexperienced left wingers. Stay tuned for updates.
