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Toronto Maple Leafs: Just How Great Are The Rookies?

By Torrin Batchelor

Mar 28, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal against Florida Panthers in the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal against Florida Panthers in the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are on pace for the teams first playoff appearance since  2012-2013.

A big reason for their remarkable play, during what all pre-season predictions had them pegged as a “Growth” year, has been the significant driving impact their host of rookies have had immediately out of the gate for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While big things were always expected out of Matthews, Nylander and Marner, the Leafs have been getting significant contributions from “lesser lights” Connor Brown, Zach Hyman and Nikita Zaitsev. With six games left the Leafs already have more points (89) than they’ve scored since the 2006-2007 season (91).

Three more points over the last six games would have the Leafs with  their highest point total since 2003-2004 (103) the last time they made it out of the first round of the playoffs.

Whether it was Auston Matthews scoring his first four NHL goals in his first NHL game, or William Nylander’s 25 Power Play Points leading the Leafs to the No.2 ranked PP in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had some very impressive, earlier than expected, contributions from their crop of dynamic rookies. Sportsnet gave an interesting breakdown of the impact this current crop of rookies has been having back in January. So why don’t we break down exactly how impressive it is what the Leafs rookies have accomplished so far.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Team Impact

The Toronto Maple Leafs have scored 232 goals so far this season, their 9 rookies account for 114 of those, or 49% of the teams offence. Next highest Rookie group would be the Arizona Coyotes; 49 of 182 goals good for 27% rookie contribution. The League average is 23 goals scored by rookies per team, only 12 teams have above 10% rookie contribution. Of those 12 teams, only 4 now hold a playoff spot; Leafs, Blackhawks (18%), Rangers (11%)  and Blue Jackets (11%).

Toronto holds the Leagues 2nd best PP at 23.9% conversion rate, of the 54 Powerplay goals they’ve scored, 22 of them have been by rookies.

Rookies have scored 20 of the Leafs 37 Game Winning Goals.

Zach Hyman, Connor Brown and Nikita Zaitsev are 3 key pieces of Toronto’s 8th ranked Penalty Kill, with Hyman and Brown counting for five of Toronto’s six short-handed goals.

Individual Records and Accomplishments

Auston Matthews’ 4 goals in his first game is an NHL record.

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Mitch Marner now holds the Leafs franchise record for assists by a rookie in a season with 41 and counting. Gus Bodnar had held the record since the 1943-44 season with 40. He’s tied with Anze Kopitar and several other legends for 22nd all time in the NHL record book.

Auston Matthews’ 36 goals and counting overtook Wendel Clark’s 31-year-old Leafs franchise rookie goal scoring record of 34. Matthews sits tied for 8th all time for NHL rookie goal scoring. Scoring three more goals over the last six games would tie him with Sidney Crosby for 5th all-time.

Zach Hyman’s 4 Short Handed Goals are a Maple Leafs record, it is possible – but unlikely – that Hyman can catch Jordan Staal’s 7 SHG as a rookie record, or Mario Lemieux’s NHL record 13 SHG in a season.

Wiliam Nylander has overtaken Kyle Wellwood for the most Powerplay points scored as a Leafs rookie with 25 and is tied with Alex Steen for most Powerplay goals as a Leafs rookie.

Upcoming Franchise Records

Auston Matthews’ 7 Game Winning Goals as a rookie is the current Leafs franchise record. If he can score two more, he’ll tie the NHL’s all-time rookie record set by Marek Svatos back in 2005-06. If he scores three more, he’ll tie Mats Sundin for the Leafs franchise (non-rookie) record.

Auston Matthews 256 shots has shattered the earlier Leafs franchise rookie record of 177 set by Sergei Berezin.

Nikita Zaitsev (34 and counting) has broken Jake Gardiner’s rookie record of 30 points to take hold of the Leafs franchise rookie scoring record.

If the Leafs stay afloat and make the playoffs, the current franchise scoring record for a rookie in the playoffs is Danny Markov with 6 points in 17 games back in 1998-99. With how involved the Leafs super-rookies are in the offence, it is likely destined to fall.

Hopefully this has been a fun and insightful look into just how amazing the Leafs rookies really are. Take a look at Andrew Boehmer’s take on the Leafs rookie scoring here. As always, let’s keep the conversation going on twitter @EditorInLeaf and @TorrinBatchelor or in the comment section below.

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