Toronto’s stars have carried the team through the early stages of the season, with David Alter now arguing that it is time for other to step up.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have long depended on their “Core Four” to drive the offense. No. 34, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander, along with emerging contributor Matthew Knies, have delivered, accounting for 57 of the team’s first 80 goals this season. This represents a staggering 71 percent concentration of goals from just five players. While this might not seem overly concerning at first, the lack of production from others highlights the issue. For example, Max Domi remains goalless after 19 games, and Nick Robertson has managed just two goals this season, underscoring the team’s secondary scoring struggles.
Injuries have only added to the challenge. No. 34 missed nine games due to an undisclosed upper-body injury, and while his performance is improving, he admitted he’s still regaining form through his first five games back.
Max Pacioretty also recently returned after nearly a month out with a lower-body injury. He was promptly placed on the top line to assist the captain’s recovery, while Knies moved down to skate with Tavares and Nylander.
Secondary scoring woes are not a new problem for the Maple Leafs. For over eight seasons, the team has sought more balanced offensive contributions. However, the financial structure of the roster complicates the issue. With nearly half the salary cap tied up in the top four forwards, securing and retaining effective secondary scorers is a tall order.
Consider Tyler Bertuzzi, a 21-goal scorer who left for the Chicago Blackhawks, or Michael Bunting, another 20-goal scorer who also moved on. The Leafs’ focus this offseason was primarily on revamping their defense, leaving younger players and depth contributors to fill offensive gaps. Robertson, who scored 14 goals in 56 games last season, was expected to step up. Despite requesting a trade this summer, the team emphasized his potential opportunities. Head coach Craig Berube remains committed to Robertson’s development, though the young forward has been scratched as others begin returning from injuries.
One key returnee is Max Domi. His inability to score in 19 games makes him a significant factor in Toronto’s lack of secondary production. Despite signing a four-year, $15 million contract in the summer following a productive season, Domi downplayed the importance of personal stats, stating he’s fine with scoring “no goals or 90 goals as long as the team is winning.” However, his lack of production remains a concern.
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Getting the Greasy Goals
Coach Berube believes the solution to these scoring woes lies in getting “two at the net.” After Marner scored a goal in close against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, December 7, Berube emphasized the importance of outnumbering defenders in front of the net.
“(It’s about) outnumbering people that have two at the net most of the time defensively,” Berube explained. “So, you’ve got to have numbers there. It’s important to have numbers inside for rebounds and things like that. So many goals are scored off tips and rebounds and broken plays around the net. If you don’t have numbers there, you’re not going to win. You’re not going to get the puck. They’re going to get the puck.”
This gritty, opportunistic approach is a departure from the style preferred by Toronto’s skilled goal scorers, which may help explain the team’s reduced offensive output this season.
Betting Implications: Over or Under?
For those considering over/under totals, recent games might suggest leaning toward the under. However, the Maple Leafs’ aggressive approach to pulling their goaltender can keep the over in play. For instance, in their recent 4-2 loss to the Penguins, Toronto pulled the goalie at 3-2, leading to two empty-net goals and pushing the total to seven. Even with just seconds remaining in regulation, Berube left the net empty, allowing for an additional goal. For Bodog hockey betting, this tendency makes the over an intriguing option.