Ex-NHLer Stu Grimson Has a Message for Maple Leafs Fans Ahead of the 2025-26 Season
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton - Imagn Images
Former NHL enforcer and NHLPA executive Stu Grimson gave his two cents on how the Maple Leafs' off-season has unfolded and has a specific message for the fan base.
After an off-season filled with changes and transactions, many are wondering how those changes will affect the Toronto Maple Leafs and if they're still capable of defending their Atlantic Division crown.
With Mitch Marner out of the picture, GM Brad Treliving insisted on building the team in a much different way than his predecessors. He acquired more blue collar players that should make them a tougher team to play against, but only time will tell how it will shake out in terms of the standings.
In playing with that same theme, former NHL enforcer and NHLPA executive Stu Grimson believes that the Leafs are heading in the right direction, but preaches a little bit of patience, at least to start the 2025-26 season.
"I think they're trending in the right direction. Those advances, those developments may not come as quickly as Leafs fans would like them, but this roster is really starting to mature and coalesce. I think there's a real spike coming for these Toronto Maple Leafs."
Dakota Joshua, Matias Maccelli, Nicolas Roy, and Michael Pezzetta should all find themselves on the opening night roster, which means building chemistry is going to be absolutely paramount during training camp and through the pre-season slate.
Grimson believes that the process is underway and while patience is required to start with, he's a big fan of how the team is built, and how all three positions are looking heading into another pivotal campaign.
"I think they have a really solid goaltending tandem, I like the way that this back-end is built, and then up front, it seems to be the forward corps that is developing a little bit of a backbone, a little bit of a bite."
The Leafs are quietly being slept on heading into the season, but a team that still has Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares is always going to be dangerous.
As Grimson mentions, look for the Leafs to use their newfound depth to play a much different brand of hockey -- a more physical brand that should excite fans a little more.
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