Bruce Boudreau makes a shocking statement regarding the maple leafs

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Hunter Bowman
November 2, 2023 (11:44)

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Bruce Boudreau had a chat about the Toronto Maple Leafs and their offseason moves, shedding light on his take regarding the team's new acquisitions.

During an episode of the Leafs Morning Take podcast, Bruce Boudreau shared his thoughts on the Leafs' offseason roster changes. He sees both improvements and challenges in the mix.

"I think they're good fits. Let's face it, I may be different, but I think I watch teams in the summer all the time for the last 20 years, NHL teams retool. They're going to lose players, so they get players to replace their players. And every now and then, you go out and get somebody that is above and beyond a replacement. Like, for example, they went and got Bertuzzi for Bunting. Both similar players, I think they should be on par.»

As for Max Domi and Ryan O'Reilly, Boudreau gives the edge to O'Reilly, calling him the better fit. He also commented on the acquisition of Ryan Reaves, labeling him as a fourth-line player.

While the Leafs have seen some departures and arrivals, the core of their team remains a positive surprise for Boudreau. He believes the Leafs have the potential to maintain their previous season's success, at least during the regular season.

Boudreau's Take on the Top Six

Boudreau also discussed the recent struggles of Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews to rack up points over the past five games. Some have suggested splitting them up, but Boudreau believes it's too early for that.

"I mean, the top six, it's all a scramble. They can change in-game, so I'm not worried about that. And you're going to find, okay, the first ten games, Mitch Marner is going to end up with nine points. If he gets one point next game, okay, but the next ten games he might get 25. Everybody goes, he's on fire, he's got that kind of capabilities."

Boudreau emphasizes that statistics can fluctuate, similar to baseball. He's not concerned about Mitch Marner's performance, stating he's one of the best players in the league. Boudreau also notes that goal scorers can go through dry spells but then catch fire in the following games.

Auston Matthews, with six goals in his first two games, showcases his scoring prowess. Boudreau isn't worried about Matthews either and believes he's an elite player.

In the end, Boudreau's message is clear: patience and time can bring consistency and expected performance from these star players.

Source: Hockeypatrol