The Maple Leafs Win Was Great, but There’s Still a Big Question

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 on Saturday, and I’m happy to take the two points. Beating a good team on the road is never something to apologize for.

But here’s the thing. You can enjoy a win and still wonder what it tells us about the team. In this case, I came away encouraged by the offence, impressed by a couple of individual performances, and still a little concerned about what happens when Toronto doesn’t have the puck.

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The Good News Is the Offence Has Options

William Nylander was terrific, finishing with five points. Auston Matthews added four, and Easton Cowan scored the goal that gave Toronto the lead late in the second period. That’s a lot of production from the players you’d hope would deliver it. But I was also interested in Gavin McKenna‘s power-play contribution. With John Tavares unavailable, McKenna got an opportunity and helped set up Nylander’s goal.

That’s how young players learn. They get an opening, make a play, and give the coaching staff something to think about. It doesn’t mean McKenna is suddenly going to take over the league. It means the Maple Leafs may have another young player who can help them.

And Nick Paul? Two assists and a physical game. That’s the kind of secondary contribution that can make a good lineup better. What a good addition to this team.

The Defensive Side Still Makes Me Nervous

Colorado had plenty of room to work, and Nathan MacKinnon made Toronto pay quickly. The Maple Leafs’ defenders struggled to contain him, and at times they looked like they were just chasing the play. Losing Chris Tanev made things harder.

Bobrovsky wasn’t perfect early, but he settled down, made 30 saves, and got his first win in a Maple Leafs sweater. Still, a new goalie (even a future Hall of Famer) needs time to get comfortable, and a team with defensive trouble won’t become airtight overnight. Toronto can’t expect to win games by scoring six goals every time.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

I’m interested in whether the Maple Leafs can keep generating offence while becoming a little less adventurous in their own end. I’m also watching what happens with the younger players. Cowan is producing, McKenna is getting opportunities, and the veterans around them can help establish what it takes to compete every night.

Saturday was a good win. It wasn’t proof that everything is fixed, and it wasn’t a reason to start worrying about every defensive mistake. For me, the real test is what happens next. Can Toronto turn an exciting win into a more complete performance? That’s a much more interesting question than whether the team can score six goals again.

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