Maple Leafs’ Depth: From Weakness to Weapon

There’s a truth quietly taking shape in Toronto that’s unlike any playoff narrative in recent Maple Leafs memory: this team has depth. Not just “we’ve got some young guys we like” deep, but legitimate playoff-caliber deep. For the first time in years, the Maple Leafs have 14 forwards who could realistically draw into a game without disrupting the lineup.

That’s an unfamiliar luxury for this franchise, creating healthy tension. One example is David Kämpf — a defensively responsible centre with penalty-killing skill and playoff experience. He isn’t playing because there’s no room for him right now. It’s not because he’s struggling. Others are simply playing too well to call for a change.

From Max Domi’s confident puck play to veteran Max Pacioretty’s edge and scoring, the roster is producing in a way that allows head coach Craig Berube to roll four lines without fear.

The Maple Leafs Are a Playoff Team Built the Right Way

The Maple Leafs are what playoff teams are supposed to look like. They’re supposed to be tough to play against because of their stars and because every shift poses a threat. And they’re supposed to be able to weather the inevitable — injuries, fatigue, matchup disadvantages — with players who are ready and capable of stepping in.

You can see that clearly in how the Maple Leafs handle in-series injuries and adjustments. They’re not panicking, scrambling to tape a third line together, or plugging in ready-made, NHL-proven forwards.

And that also extends to the blue line and crease — the Toronto Maple Leafs are rolling out six steady defensemen, and they have two goaltenders they trust. Tonight, they have to trust Joseph Woll to win and play well in front of him. It’s the kind of structural balance rarely exists this time of year.

This Is What Winning Teams Like the Maple Leafs Do

Depth doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet. Sometimes it’s just about a shift where the puck stays in the offensive zone. A faceoff win in your own end. A neutral zone takeaway. And sometimes — like in Game 3 — it’s a third-line winger making the play that leads to the game-winning goal.

This team no longer feels like it needs everything to go right at the top to survive. In fact, in stretches where the top line has been quiet, the Maple Leafs haven’t just stayed in games — they’ve won them.

That’s a massive shift.