Which players could Maple Leafs least afford to lose in race for playoff spot?

Justin Bourne analyzes which players the Toronto Maple Leafs can least afford to lose to injuries in their playoff pursuit, ranking captain Auston Matthews at the top of the list. The Maple Leafs have recently dropped several close games by a single goal while dealing with absences from key top-six forwards Kirill Marchenko and John Tavares, as well as defenseman Chris Tanev.

Bourne argues that Toronto's roster construction relies heavily on top-tier forward skill to overcome defensive and depth limitations. Defenseman Darren Raddysh and winger William Nylander follow Matthews in Bourne's power rankings, while Tavares is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday and Marchenko is projected to miss around two weeks.