Who Expected This from the Maple Leafs Zack MacEwen?

There's something refreshing about seeing Zack MacEwen on the scoresheet, especially when the Toronto Maple Leafs struggle to find offence. In Thursday's 5-2 loss to Minnesota, MacEwen scored a goal and added an assist, finishing as Toronto's leading scorer on a night when the team needed contributions from just about anyone willing to provide them.

That's not normally the role MacEwen is asked to play. He's a fourth-line forward, a physical presence, and someone expected to make life uncomfortable for opponents rather than carry the offence. But over 15 games, he's already putting up encouraging numbers: three goals, three assists, and 37 hits. He's also playing well enough to suggest he could establish new career highs in both points and hits.

MacEwen Is Becoming a Useful Piece of the Maple Leafs’ Puzzle.

What I find interesting about MacEwen's emergence is that sometimes a team doesn't need another player trying to become a scorer. It needs players who understand their jobs, bring energy, finish checks and take advantage of the opportunities that come their way. MacEwen seems comfortable in that role.

For a Maple Leafs team that has been searching for more consistent contributions throughout its lineup, that's important. Toronto has plenty of players who are expected to produce offence. What it needs is a supporting cast that can make life easier for the team's top players. A fourth line that can generate momentum, win battles, and occasionally chip in a goal can change the feel of a game.

There's also a career opportunity here for MacEwen. His previous best offensive season was 10 points in 56 games in 2022-23, while his career-high 159 hits came in 2021-22. He's already halfway to that previous points total in just 15 games.

Can MacEwen Become a Regular Maple Leafs Difference-Maker?

One good game doesn't suddenly make MacEwen an offensive difference-maker, and nobody should expect that. But perhaps that's missing the point. The Maple Leafs need players who take pride in doing the less glamorous work. MacEwen appears to be doing exactly that, and when a fourth-line player starts giving a team a little more than expected, coaches tend to notice.

Sometimes the players who help a team turn things around aren't the ones fans expect. MacEwen is making a reasonable case that he deserves a little more attention.