The Playoff Villains Who Can Save the Maple Leafs: Bennett, Marchand & Perry

Sam Bennett, just 28, is leading the 2025 Playoffs in scoring. He might not dazzle in the regular season, but come spring, he becomes a wrecking ball with finish. His combination of scoring touch and physical play is rare, and it’s precisely the kind of game that has always caused the Maple Leafs problems.

Then there’s Marchand and Perry. Yes, they’re aging—Marchand is 37 and Perry is now 40—but they continue to elevate when it matters. They know every trick in the book, and they’ve used them all against Toronto. Imagine, just for once, those weapons being turned around for the Blue & White.

Where Bennett, Marchand, and Perry Rank in Postseason Goal-Scoring

If you’re looking for proof that Bennett, Marchand, and Perry are built for playoff hockey, look no further than the 2025 postseason scoring charts. Specifically, Bennett has exploded with 14 goals in 20 games, leading the playoffs in goal scoring while playing a physical, agitating style that wears down opponents.

Right behind him? Perry scored nine goals, and Marchand is just one back with eight, ranking among the top goal scorers this spring despite their age and limited ice time compared to younger stars. These aren’t just role players—they’re playoff drivers. Three of the NHL’s top five postseason goal scorers are Bennett, Perry, and Marchand. They don’t just show up in the playoffs—they take over.

Taking the Weapon Out of the Enemy’s Hands

There’s a second level to this argument: it’s not just about what these players can do for the Maple Leafs—it’s what they won’t be doing against them.

Marchand has made a career out of tormenting Toronto. He plays the villain better than anyone since Claude Lemieux. Perry has always been a playoff pest, showing up in late spring on every team he joins—Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, and now the Edmonton Oilers. Bennett put Matthew Knies out of the postseason two years ago with a concussion. These guys aren’t just difficult opponents—they’re physical and psychological warfare in shoulder pads.

Signing them flips the script. It neutralizes threats that have haunted the team for years.

The Price Will Hurt—But Maybe That’s the Point

Let’s not sugarcoat it: these deals won’t be cheap. Bennett is about to cash in, and the older veterans will need enticing offers to uproot and commit to Toronto, especially with load management plans. The Maple Leafs would likely have to clear cap space, juggle roster spots, and accept the long-term risk to make this happen.

But that’s what “all in” looks like. You don’t get playoff killers by bargain hunting. If the Maple Leafs want to change their playoff fate, they might need to spend like it. Think of it this way: would it be worse to overpay these players and finally win a Stanley Cup, or stay safe, miss out, and have to watch Marchand or Perry raise another banner with someone else? Are great regular seasons, with a “chance” to win every year, good enough?

Or, like their sister team, the Toronto Raptors, could the Maple Leafs go all in—mortgaging the future to win one Stanley Cup? It’s a real possibility. The Raptors made bold, uncomfortable moves to win in 2019, knowing it could cost them long-term stability. And it did. Since that championship, they’ve fallen into the NBA’s basement. The question to ask Raptors fans is, was it worth it?

Would that one shining moment – one Stanley Cup – make it all worthwhile? For the Maple Leafs, would fans make that trade? Winning one Stanley Cup could mean embracing short-term chaos, salary cap pain, and total rebuild over the following seven or eight seasons. But after decades of heartbreak, would one year of glory be enough? Maybe that’s the real question.

Why These Moves Could Work

If signed wisely, Bennett is still in his prime and could be a long-term piece. Marchand, nasty as ever, still produces offensively and brings leadership that no Maple Leafs core player has shown. Perry is a short-term addition that could bring veteran poise and playoff fire. He’s a “final piece” kind of player. Load manage him, limit his minutes, and then unleash him in April.

Combined, they shift Toronto’s entire playoff identity. They bring bite, edge, and a different kind of heartbeat.

All In or Still Halfway There?

If Toronto keeps its core intact and once again rolls into the postseason hoping things will “just go differently,” fans know what to expect. But if they’re ready to embrace a bolder, grittier vision—even one that’s very short-term and very uncomfortable—these three players could change everything.

They’ve tormented Toronto long enough. Maybe it’s time to hand them a Blue & White jersey and finally let someone else suffer for a change.

[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]