Crammed with star energy, the Toronto Maple Leafs will certainly have some gamers closing in on vital profession milestones. Whereas the prize on most gamers’ minds on a contender is a coveted Stanley Cup win—or, a minimum of a powerful playoff run—there’s something enjoyable about recognizing particular person milestones. Let’s talk about not simply the notably necessary ones, however each milestone the Maple Leafs’ roster might be having fun with this season:
Objective Milestones
Whereas comparatively unlikely, John Tavares might attain the 500-goal mark within the 2024-25 season. He at the moment sits at 456 objectives, 44 away from the massive milestone. He’s scored at that tempo as soon as in his profession, again in his first season with the Maple Leafs in 2018-19, so it’s extra probably than not that he doesn’t attain that threshold this season. What is anticipated, although, is that franchise middle and captain Auston Matthews will attain the 400-goal milestone. He’s simply 32 objectives away in the intervening time, and contemplating that he’s solely scored fewer than 40 twice in his profession, he ought to definitely be anticipated to maintain that tempo up ought to he avoid harm.
Along with these two large milestones, it’s a close to assure that Mitch Marner will rating the six objectives wanted for 200 in his profession. With 33 objectives this season, William Nylander would hit 250 for his profession, and contemplating that he’s surpassed that in every of the final three seasons, that too will be thought to be probably. With seven objectives in 2024-25, fourth-line middle David Kampf would hit 50.
Help Milestones
Whereas he won’t hit that 500-goal mark this season, Tavares will nearly definitely move by the 600-assist barrier. He’s simply 16 helpers away from that complete, so until he’s tormented by accidents, he’ll attain that on the ability play alone. Marner wants 55 extra assists to get to 500 for his profession, and there’s no purpose he shouldn’t be capable to hit this milestone as a traditionally pass-first participant with a profession common of 56 assists per season.
Associated: 2024-25 NHL Milestones Tracker
Morgan Rielly has the next-most profession assists, and can most positively put up the eight he wants for 400. Matthews and Max Domi are each near the 300-assist mark, at the moment having 281 and 287, respectively. Each gamers ought to hit that milestone simply. No one on the roster is especially near 200 profession assists, or a minimum of proven earlier historical past to warrant anticipating some extent improve sufficient to hit these markers. For the 100 profession help milestone, there’s actually only one choice for the Maple Leafs. Kampf sits at 87, who logged 11 final season however put up 20 in 2022-23. He’s surpassed 13 helpers thrice in his seven years within the NHL, so it’s not out of the realm of risk.
Level Milestones
In addition to the objective and help markers, there are complete factors. Tavares doubtlessly has a monumental season forward of him milestone-wise, as he might be hitting the 1,100 profession level threshold in 2024-25 on high of the objective and help markers. He’s simply 60 factors away, and has solely scored fewer than that in two seasons: his rookie marketing campaign (54 factors) and the COVID-shortened 2020-21 (50). Matthews and Marner ought to each be hitting 700 profession factors, with the 2 at the moment sitting at 649 and 639, respectively.
Nylander sits 72 factors away from 600 in his profession, and contemplating he’s surpassed that complete handsomely in every of the final three seasons, he ought to be thought of a lock to achieve that milestone. Newly signed defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson can have an excellent shot to achieve 500—he’s at the moment 29 away and has solely scored fewer than that in 4 of his 14 seasons within the NHL. Rielly is just about a lock for that marker as properly, with 472 profession factors to his title at this level. He’ll come near that 500-point mark on the ability play alone.
Additionally newly acquired, Chris Tanev ought to be assured to surpass 200 profession factors. He’s bought 190 at this level and hasn’t recorded a single-digit level season since 2012-13 when he performed simply 38 video games. Whereas unlikely, there are a couple of gamers who might attain the 100-point threshold of their younger careers. For one, Timothy Liljegren might hit 100 factors if he steps his level recreation up a bit. He’s by no means gotten previous 23 factors in a season, however paced for 34 final marketing campaign had he stayed wholesome for all 82 video games. Thus, it’s not unimaginable that he scores the 35 factors he must get to that 100-point mark. As well as, there are Nick Robertson and Matthew Knies, who’re each very younger however ought to be receiving legit alternatives within the Maple Leafs’ high six for the season. They’ve each proven flashes of brilliance, so if both of them really breaks out, it’s potential that they attain 100 as properly. They sit at 34 and 36 factors, respectively.
Video games Performed Milestones
Ekman-Larsson will nearly positively be reaching 1,000 video games performed in Toronto this season, barring any main harm. He’s simply 18 video games away, and contemplating his latest resurgence and sizeable $3.5 million cap hit, he’ll positively get enjoying time on the second or third pairing. Ryan Reaves is subsequent in line, being simply 23 video games away from 900 for his profession. Whereas he could also be scratched for an excellent portion of the season, it’s onerous for me to think about a world through which he doesn’t swimsuit as much as hit his 900th in 2024-25.
Veteran defensemen Rielly and Tanev will each swimsuit up for his or her 800th video games this season, with each being single-digit video games away from the spectacular milestone. Domi will attain the 700-game marker (he wants 39 extra) as will Calle Jarnkrok, who will attain that milestone on opening evening. All of Matthews, Marner, and Jake McCabe can have performed in 600 NHL video games by mid-season if they’re wholesome. Kampf is simply 23 video games away from 500 for his profession, in order that’s one more lock.
Subsequent in line is 32-year-old Jani Hakanpää, who will hit 300 profession video games handily, sitting simply 12 away. Each Liljegren and Connor Dewar will hit 200 NHL video games throughout the first 10 video games of the 2024-25 season. Pontus Holmberg, Knies, Robertson, Bobby McMann, and Connor Timmins ought to all attain the 100-game threshold if they continue to be in good well being.
Whereas unlikely contemplating the addition of sturdy goaltender Anthony Stolarz, it is potential that Joseph Woll will attain 100 profession video games if he takes full management of the Maple Leafs’ goaltending tandem. He at the moment has simply 36 video games performed, that means that he must play in 78 p.c of Toronto’s video games and chorus from getting injured. For reference, Juuse Saros was the one netminder to start out in 78 p.c of his crew’s video games final season. It’s extremely unbelievable to match this, however potential if Woll steps up in a giant method. Each Woll and Stolarz can—and will—hit 50 wins for his or her profession, with present totals of 21 and 43, respectively.
All-Time Milestones
Matthews has a doubtlessly historic season forward of him when it comes to climbing up all-time Maple Leafs information. He at the moment sits third in franchise historical past in objectives scored with 368, however it’s totally potential contemplating his previous few seasons that he’ll take over the all-time lead. He’d want 53 objectives to cement himself as No. 1, and contemplating he’s discovered twine 60 or extra instances twice within the final three seasons, I wouldn’t be shocked by any means to see him attain this unbelievable feat this season. With a profession yr, he might additionally take over fourth place within the all-time factors chief checklist. He’s paced for as much as 119 factors earlier than (in 2021-22), however he would even must surpass that to achieve the 120 factors he’d must overtake legend Börje Salming.
Marner and Rielly ought to be shifting up within the all-time assists checklist, with Marner needing 49 to climb to fourth all-time. Rielly might soar to sixth place in franchise historical past with a season of a minimum of 46 helpers. Whereas Marner is a near-lock to provide the 49 wanted, Rielly has solely reached 46 assists 4 instances in his profession so it isn’t a assure by any means. Sitting simply 10 factors behind Matthews for his profession, Marner also needs to be climbing the ranks in all-time Maple Leafs factors—he might soar all the way in which to sixth place with a 75-point season, assuming that Matthews outproduces him.
Large Milestone 12 months for Veteran Maple Leafs
This has the potential to be an enormous yr when it comes to milestones for the Maple Leafs veteran stars in Tavares, Matthews, and Marner. Tavares ought to at least attain landmarks in factors and assists and will attain it in objectives as properly. Matthews and Marner will each attain multiple-century marks in objectives, assists, factors, and video games performed. Defensemen Ekman-Larsson, Rielly, and Tanev have a number of upcoming milestones that they’ll probably hit in 2024-25, as do seasoned forwards Kampf and Domi. The veterans have a lot to stay up for on this upcoming season.
