For the last 21 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 22^nd annual review will appear here on Dobber Hockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are taken into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

** Be sure to pick up your copy of the 2024-2025 Fantasy Hockey Guide **

Gone: Tyler Bertuzzi, Ilya Samsonov, Ilya Lyubushkin, T.J. Brodie, Joel Edmundson, Noah Gregor, Maxime Lajoie.

Incoming: Chris Tanev, Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jani Hakanpaa, Philippe Myers.

Impact of Changes: In last summer's offseason grades piece, we noted the Maple Leafs were at a tipping point. The same holds true for this year's iteration of the Blue and White. This team needs to go on a deep run to not only salvage some respectability of this core but also to feed a starving fan base what they've been lacking for so long: a legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup. The narratives around Toronto are beyond played out and all that really matters is what the Leafs do come spring.

Are the additions of Tanev and Ekman-Larsson enough to improve a Toronto blueline that allowed the ninth-most goals against in the NHL last season? It's definitely an upgrade while bringing in a security blanket-type goaltender in Anthony Stolarz to backup Joseph Woll also clearly improves the backend, but the Leafs are still a top-heavy club and success of the group runs through its new captain.

We'll get to Auston Matthews in a minute, but in terms of fantasy targets recently added, Stolarz could have the most upside should Woll struggle or, more likely, go down with another injury. Stolarz' stats with the Florida Panthers last year point to a player with sneaky-good fantasy value capable of holding down the blue paint. Stolarz put up career numbers across the board with a 16-7-2 record, 2.03 goals-against average, .925 save percentage, and two shutouts in 2023-24. The 30-year-old veteran makes for an underrated target at the backend of fantasy hockey drafts that could steal the crease before long.

Ready For Full Time: Toronto definitely has one of the shallower talent pools in the NHL with only a few prospects ready to make the jump. Of those, three bubble to the top as potential pieces to target in certain keeper formats. Easton Cowan has to be the number one option because he absolutely lit the OHL up last year. The 19-year-old finished the regular season tied for fifth in scoring with 96 points in 54 games and followed that up by leading the London Knights to the J. Ross Robertson Cup as league champs with 34 points in 18 games while also taking home the Red Tilson Trophy as league MVP. The former 28th-overall pick's high-octane offensive skill set and playmaking ability give him a decent outside shot at cracking the roster out of camp who could slot into the top-six group on the left side should Matthew Knies or Bobby McMann not make the most of their opportunities.

After Cowan, centreman Fraser Minten, who captained Team Canada at last year's World Juniors, and goaltender Dennis Hildeby, the Marlies netminder who rocked a 27-11-7 record last season in the AHL, would be the other young names who might get a look at some point this season for new head coach Craig Berube.

Fantasy Outlook: Speaking of Berube, it will be interesting to see what buttons he can push and impact he will have on the core four of Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares, all four of whom will be relied upon heavily to take this team over the top.

After those four names, Morgan Rielly and Woll are the next two Leafs to come off draft boards. As much as we just talked up Stolarz, Toronto is still invested in the young American netminder who should get the opportunity to be the number one come October. The Buds have to be considered a team with multiple solid fantasy options with Matthews clearly being the top dog coming off the best season of his already Hall-of-Fame-worthy career with 107 points, 369 shots on net, 93 blocked shots, 90 hits, and 20 penalty minutes. This group will go as far as Matthews carries it. If he for some reason struggles, Toronto is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade in the increasingly-competitive Atlantic Division.

Overall Grade: B+ (last year was B+)