Besides the big four, which Maple Leafs need to step up in the playoffs?

Well, the title intentionally takes away the obvious answer. The main thing that’s gone wrong these last few playoff runs is that the main core wasn’t been what we’ve come to expect from their regular season dominance.

Secondary scoring is one way to mask that, so we could say that. Getting some production from the 3rd and 4th lines would go a long way, even they’re not really designed for that. Engvall, Mikheyev, Spezza and Kase (if healthy) are all capable of adding clutch goals. So the depth players need to step up to make up for the drop off we’ve come to expect from the top two lines.

It would be unfair to put this much pressure on the secondary scoring, but having offensive support from the likes of Mikheyev, Engvall, Kerfoot, and Kase among others will be incredibly helpful to ensure the Leafs are well covered in the event the big four go cold once again.

Beyond the forwards, Campbell will need to play like he did in November because he will be the only viable option for the Leafs to use in the crease. Mrazek remains out with a groin injury and will need time to get readjusted, Kallgren remains a work in progress, Woll is also sidelined, and Hutchinson is best suited with the Marlies. If the Leafs are going to go anywhere, it will need to be up to Campbell.

When posing this question I meant to make it in the singular form to avoid too many “everyone needs to step up” takes or listing off half the roster. Alas, grammar often makes a fool of me and here we are. I’m going to do my best to keep this the way it was intended and go with the somewhat obvious answer here and say Jack Campbell.

When looking at potential first round opposition as well as who would potentially come after, the Leafs are outmatched in net by almost every team. Toronto has one hell of a team in front of their goaltender and as much as it sucks to put it all on the netminder, anything less than Campbell’s best could very well be Toronto’s undoing.

The good news is that Campbell has been on his best or at least best adjacent in the last three starts, and that’s what you need to see if you are the Leafs.

I’m gonna go a bit off the board and say Wayne Simmonds (and Kyle Clifford). It’s clear at this point that at least one of those guys are gonna be on the game one roster. They need to play good enough to justify it. And by good enough, I’ll put that in no uncertain terms: be complete pests that drive opposing players up the wall, get them off their game and drag the rest of the team into the fight. Simmonds was a non-factor in the playoff series against Montreal, he (and/or Clifford) can’t just be out there getting in a quick cardio workout. Every player has a role to play, they need to do theirs, it’s that simple.