The Toronto Maple Leafs will kick off their 2024-25 NHL season with a go to to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. This season opener brings a contemporary begin for the Maple Leafs beneath newly appointed head coach Craig Berube. After parting methods with Sheldon Keefe following a string of early playoff exits, Toronto hopes Berube’s championship pedigree will propel them deeper into the postseason.
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The crew additionally made key roster additions over the offseason, including pleasure for this upcoming marketing campaign. How will the brand new gamers do in opposition to the blue-and-white’s iconic rival tonight?
Merchandise One: Craig Berube Makes His Toronto Debut
Craig Berube, 58, will make his regular-season Maple Leafs teaching debut after a profitable tenure with the St. Louis Blues, the place he led the crew to a Stanley Cup victory in 2019. Berube replaces Sheldon Keefe, who was let go after one other first-round playoff loss final season.
Can Berube’s expertise and no-nonsense teaching type be the important thing to serving to the crew break by means of their postseason struggles? The Maple Leafs are banking on his confirmed potential to handle high-pressure conditions as they give the impression of being to make a deep playoff run. Throughout the preseason, his programs have regarded strong and workable.
Merchandise Two: Followers Get to See Roster Additions Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz
The Maple Leafs bolstered their ahead traces by signing veterans Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz to one-year contracts only a day earlier than the season opener. Pacioretty, 35, is anticipated so as to add scoring depth on the third line. Lorentz, 28, brings a Cup-winning pedigree from his time with the Florida Panthers. He additionally brings physicality, pace, and the flexibility to play middle.
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Each gamers had spectacular coaching camps, and Berube is assured they may carry dimension and flexibility to the crew. Regardless of harm struggles final season, Pacioretty is set to assist the Maple Leafs win. “At this stage in my profession, an important factor is successful,” Pacioretty stated.
Merchandise Three: The Maple Leafs Will Check a Stacked Prime Six and a New Protection
The Maple Leafs’ top-six forwards stay as elite as ever, with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner main the cost. Matthews, who scored an unbelievable 69 targets final season, shall be seeking to construct on his offensive dominance. Nylander and Marner stay important playmakers for the crew.
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
On defence, Toronto added veteran Chris Tanev, 34, in free company. Tanev, recognized for his elite shot-blocking potential (207 blocked photographs final season), will assist solidify the blue line. His management and defensive abilities ought to present stability to a protection corps that struggled at instances final season. Can he be the finest accomplice the expert Morgan Rielly has ever performed with? In that case, opponents ought to be careful.
Merchandise 4: Followers Get to Have a look at Toronto’s Goaltending Plan
The goaltending state of affairs has modified, with Joseph Woll anticipated to tackle an expanded function this season. Moreover, free agent signee Anthony Stolarz, who received the Stanley Cup with the Panthers final season, will compete for enjoying time.
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Each goalies should show their consistency to provide Toronto the back-end help they’ll want of their quest for postseason success. May this inexperienced tandem be higher than consultants predict? They could possibly be the tipping level this season.
Merchandise 5: Montreal Is a Younger Staff Crammed with Hopes and Challenges
On the opposite aspect of the ice, the Canadiens enter the season opener seeking to rebound from a disappointing 30-36-16 season in 2023-24, which positioned them final within the Atlantic Division. Montreal’s high offseason acquisition, ahead Patrik Laine, is sidelined with a knee harm, leaving head coach Martin St. Louis to depend on a younger core of forwards like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson appears like a keeper on the blue line, and goaltenders Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau will purpose to maintain the Maple Leafs’ offense off the rating sheet.
Regardless of these challenges, St. Louis (as ever) is optimistic. He’s been a great coach for this rebuilding crew. His focus will proceed to be on growing the Canadiens’ success by means of five-on-five play. Tonight, going through a high-powered crew like Toronto shall be an early check for Montreal’s pushback.
What’s Subsequent for the Maple Leafs?
The 2024-25 season opener between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens guarantees to be a enjoyable match between two historic rivals. With Berube on the helm and a number of other new faces within the lineup, the Maple Leafs are keen to start out the season sturdy and show they’re severe contenders. Montreal, coping with accidents however powered by children, will search to beat their divisional foes and set the tone for his or her season. Each groups have rather a lot to show, making tonight’s recreation one to look at.
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The Maple Leafs will head to New Jersey after the sport to face former coach Sheldon Keefe and the Devils on Thursday. The fast turnaround would possibly put Toronto at a slight drawback, nevertheless it gives followers an opportunity to see each goalies in motion. With back-to-back video games to kick off the season, early victories might go a good distance in solidifying the crew’s place within the Atlantic. Each video games ought to be thrilling to look at.
