NHL analyst sounds off on hidden Maple Leafs flaw after Mitch Marner exit

NHL analyst sounds off on hidden Maple Leafs flaw after Mitch Marner exit originally appeared on The Sporting News

The NHL remains in the offseason, and while teams are looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, one NHL analyst is telling the Toronto Maple Leafs that their roster isn't quite ready for the new campaign.

Mitch Marner left this offseason to begin a new chapter with the Vegas Golden Knights. As a result, there's a hole in Toronto's power play regarding who will orchestrate the attack, as that was Marner's role.

All eyes point to Morgan Rielly, which will likely be the case. However, what's behind Rielly to fill that role on the No. 2 power play or if the 31-year-old were to get injured at any point of the season?

Do the Maple Leafs still need to make a move?

On the latest edition of Toronto Sports Rush, NHL analyst Pierre McGuire joined EJ Hradek to share what area of the roster Leafs general manager Brad Treliving should be focusing on ahead of the new season.

"I'd love to see them try to make one upgrade in terms of a puck-moving defenseman," McGuire said. "One of the things they did this summer, they brought in Henry Thrun. I think Henry Thrun is a very useful player... Henry's a really good puck mover, but he's a depth puck mover. He's not a top-four puck mover.

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"I think if they ever could add one of those and take some pressure off of, let's say, Morgan Rielly in the power play, I think that would help them. I would be trying to gauge and focus in on a power play defenseman.

"Think about it: last year, they went five forwards on their first power play in Toronto, and Mitchell Marner is not there anymore. He was the guy running the power play. So, I think that would be something that I'd be looking for if I were a Brad Treliving and the Toronto Maple Leafs [is] a puck-moving, elite offensive-type defenseman."