"With the Toronto Maple Leafs hovering close to the .500 mark so far this 2025-26 NHL season, we have often seen Leafs head coach Craig Berube tinkering with the lines to find the ideal combinations. Whether it be just making in-game changes or the actual insertion and scratches of players for the daily lineup, the Leafs appear to be still looking for the right mix this season."
"Toronto had signed young free agent forward Borya Valis to a three-year, entry-level contract earlier this year. Valis had spent last season playing in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars where he posted 34 goals and 47 assists for 81 points in 66 games played. This year with the Marlies, the 21-year-old forward has been off to a strong start, tallying six goals and two assists in 12 games of action to date."
"With the ability to play a solid 200-foot game while adding a physical presence, Valis could be the next Bobby McMann to arrive on scene as a power forward for the Leafs in the not-so-distant future in a potential key cog for their middle six. In fact, if Toronto starts to find scoring hard to come by, the sudden scoring prowess of Valis could elevate him to next man up status and even be promoted much earlier than expected."
The Toronto Maple Leafs are hovering near .500 early in 2025-26, prompting frequent line tinkering and lineup changes as the team searches for the right combinations. Internal options and external trades remain possible paths to improve complementary pieces. Borya Valis signed a three-year entry-level contract after a 34-goal, 81-point WHL season and has six goals and two assists in 12 games with the Marlies, offering a 200-foot, physical power-forward profile who could fill a middle-six role and be promoted if scoring becomes scarce. Topi Niemela signing in Sweden opened defensive opportunities, and Toronto's fourth-round pick from 2020 has taken advantage of that chance.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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