Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Toronto’s Depth Faces Its Biggest Test in McDavid & Draisaitl

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won three straight games, and that’s a welcome change for a team still trying to find its identity. Thursday’s 5-4 win over the New York Rangers was another close one, but Toronto found a way to finish the job. Now comes a much tougher test. The Maple Leafs visit the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, and this is the sort of game that can tell us a little more about what this team has.

Edmonton is flying, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl putting up points at a remarkable rate. Toronto, meanwhile, is dealing with injuries and trying to get contributions from throughout its lineup. There’s a question worth asking here: can the Maple Leafs keep winning when they can’t rely on their biggest names to do all the heavy lifting?

Maple Leafs’ Fourth Line Gives Toronto Something to Build On

One of the more encouraging developments in Thursday’s win was the contribution from Toronto’s fourth line. Brandon Duhaime and Teddy Blueger scored their first goals with the Maple Leafs, and the line combined for seven points. Those are the sorts of nights that can make a difference over the course of a long season.

Good teams need more than their top players to produce. Injuries and difficult stretches will happen, and the clubs that handle them best often get meaningful contributions from players who don’t usually attract much attention. Toronto’s fourth line has reminded everyone what depth can look like when the pieces come together.

The challenge is doing it again. One productive night is encouraging, but it doesn’t establish a pattern. Against an Edmonton team that just won a wild 6-5 shootout game against the Carolina Hurricanes, those extra contributions could matter. Toronto may need them.

Maple Leafs’ Defence Faces a Major McDavid-Draisaitl Test

The other concern is harder to ignore. Edmonton’s McDavid and Draisaitl combined for ten points against Carolina, and their career production against Toronto gives the Oilers plenty of reason to feel confident. When those two move the puck and find open ice, a defence can spend a lot of time reacting instead of dictating play.

Toronto won’t be at full strength on the blue line. Chris Tanev remains out with an upper-body injury, while Nick Blankenburg left Thursday’s game after taking a heavy hit. That leaves the Maple Leafs with less room for error against two players who excel at making opponents pay for small mistakes.

Edmonton has a potential opening in its crease. No. 1 goalie Devon Levi is on injured reserve, and Tristan Jarry is expected to start against Toronto. But the Maple Leafs shouldn’t assume that a goaltending change solves anything. They still have to manage the puck, limit odd-man rushes and avoid giving Edmonton’s stars extra opportunities.

Sergei Bobrovsky could also use a stronger performance after allowing four goals on 25 shots against the Rangers. His .895 save percentage through eight games isn’t where Toronto would want it, particularly with the club paying him $21 million over three years. Saturday would be a useful opportunity to settle things down in net.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

There’s another storyline in Edmonton. Mike Babcock will coach against Toronto for the first time since his contentious departure in 2019. That’s bound to attract attention, but the bigger issue for the Maple Leafs is the hockey in front of them.

Toronto has won three straight, and the fourth line’s contribution is a positive sign. Now the Maple Leafs have to show they can carry that effort into a game against one of the league’s most dangerous offensive combinations. If they can get dependable goaltending, protect their depleted defence and continue getting help from their depth players, they’ll give themselves a chance.

That’s what Saturday is really about. The Maple Leafs don’t need to prove everything in one game. But they’ll learn something about themselves if they can keep this winning streak alive in Edmonton.