The Maple Leafs: A House Built on a Weak Foundation
John Chayka deserves credit for moving quickly after becoming general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In just a matter of weeks, he reshaped the defence, remade much of the forward group, and hired a coach who shares his vision of how the team should play. On paper, the Maple Leafs appear better in almost every area.
There is just one problem. The foundation may still be shaky.
There Are Plenty of Reasons for Optimism for the Maple Leafs.
Over the past several weeks, we have taken a first look at every major change Chayka has made. Our conclusion was largely positive. The defence should move the puck better and generate more offence. The forwards sacrificed some scoring ability but gained defensive responsibility, penalty-killing expertise, and experience. Behind the bench, Jim Hiller appears to be a better philosophical fit for the style of hockey Chayka wants his team to play.
Those are meaningful improvements.
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The Biggest Question for the Maple Leafs Remains in Goal.
Hockey has a way of exposing weak foundations. A beautifully constructed house won't stand for long if it's built on unstable ground. Likewise, a lineup full of improvements can quickly collapse if the goaltending isn't good enough to support everything built in front of it.
That is why the biggest gamble Chayka made this offseason may not have been on defence, the forwards, or even behind the bench. It was in goal.
Everything Rests on Bobrovsky
Sergei Bobrovsky arrives with championship credentials, but he also enters his age-38 season after an uncharacteristically disappointing year. Is last season the beginning of an inevitable decline, or was it simply a rare off year for one of the NHL's elite goaltenders? The answer to that question could determine the Maple Leafs' season.
Toronto also lost organizational depth when Dennis Hildeby was moved, leaving Samuel Hlavaj as the next man in line despite never appearing in an NHL game. That creates even less margin for error if Bobrovsky struggles or misses significant time.
The Verdict Will Be Won Between the Pipes.
Everything else Chayka has done points toward a team with a clearer identity and a stronger chance to compete. The defence is deeper. The forwards fit together better. The coaching staff and front office finally appear to be pulling in the same direction.
Yet all of those improvements could come crashing down if the one position every successful team depends upon fails to deliver. John Chayka may have fixed three of the Maple Leafs' biggest problems this summer. Whether he solved the most important one won't be known until the man wearing the mask takes the ice.