We now know the two Leafs players who will lose their jobs with the return of Jani Hakanpaa and Conor Dewar

Jani Hakanpaa and Conor Dewar are on the cusp of returning to the Leafs lineup, which means Pontus Holberg and Simon Benoit will likely be sitting out.

The Toronto Maple Leafs got off to a tough start this season, sitting at a mark of 6-5-1. While the team has high aspirations for improved defense, a few players have been underperforming, and the Leaf offense has equally been disappointing. The good news is the Leafs have a bit of reinforcements on the horizon. Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar are on deck, with the possible return of Calle Jarnkrok, too, which could add some energy to Toronto's bottom lines of the lineup.

Some who have really stood out in a negative way on the ice include Pontus Holmberg and Simon Benoit. Neither has been very noticeable on offense, while defensively, they leave a lot to be desired. Given the continued opportunities that head coach Craig Berube has afforded him, both have been so unimpressive on the ice that they rarely seem to make their presence known.

In the case of Holmberg, even teammates Ryan Reaves and Nick Robertson, who have also both struggled, between whom they have one point this year, have played to a higher level. To date, team play has simply not created any justification for Holmberg to dress. He shoots rarely, is a mid-passer, and his playmaking abilities are very minimal. It may be time for Craig Berube to start benching Holmberg a bit more often to send a message, and hopefully get a little consistency out of him.

Simon Benoit has struggled as well, although a lot of his issues have come on the defensive side of the puck. With Benoit on the ice, Toronto's expected goals percentage drops almost 10%, a huge impact that could indicate often when he hits the ice, Toronto creates less offense. His inability to get the puck out of the Toronto zone has stunted any possible momentum the team could have, and even Morgan Rielly, who got off to such a poor start, seems to be creating better numbers. Maybe it's time for a change, with Hakanpaa ready to go on deck and perhaps giving them that little extra defensive boost.

If the Leafs are to expect serious potential upgrades, Pontus Holmberg and Simon Benoit can be prime candidates for replacement or reevaluation. The addition of Conor Dewar and Jani Hakanpaa could be just the spark that Toronto needs to elevate its play. The potential removal of the deficiencies of these two struggling players might be exactly what the team needs to reset and really get their season turned around.

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