Toronto Maple Leafs: Individual Rankings, Defense

B+. Morgan Reilly, the only Leaf to suit up for <a href=. D. Toronto Maple Leafs. MORGAN REILLY

D. Toronto Maple Leafs. MATT HUNWICK. A-. Matt Hunwick started the season on the first pairing with Morgan Reilly and looked good…really, he did. Surprising I think everyone including his Coach. He even led the entire NHL in short-handed minutes/game at 3:42.  Obviously he earned the trust of his Coach and was rewarded with hard minutes. Unfortunately, his results were not as spectacular as he may have looked on the ice, at least not as good as the very beginning of the season. In 60 games, he scored just twice and registered eight points.  Playing over 22 minutes per game and scoring ten points is enough evidence to show that he was probably placed in a position that he was not suited for…Phaneuf style. This wasn’t so much his own fault as it was more out of default (and partially earned for being a hard worker). Unfortunately, he had to have season ending surgery for a sports hernia.  A tough ending for a guy that despite being over played, was making the most of an opportunity. Matt Hunwick seemed to overachieve this season leaving him with possibly a slightly exaggerated grade.

D. Toronto Maple Leafs. JAKE GARDINER. B+. I thought Jake Gardiner was the teams best defensemen for the first 15-20 games of the season. He then seemed to struggle mid season but then picked it up post trade deadline, again.  Overall, I thought Jake Gardiner showed a lot of poise and that he is a very capable second pairing defender. Gardiner has always received some extra criticism on his defensive game that was a little more harsh than was probably necessary. But this year his critics either seemed occupied with other things or were happy with his game.  This season he was not caught flat footed as much as in previous years and really improved his transition game moving the puck down the ice.

A-. To the fan that avoids advanced stats with a 10 foot pole, Martin Marincin was one of the shocks of the season. To the fan that ignores the eye test for data driven analysis, Martin Marincin finally started getting the respect and responsibility that he deserves. Marincin has a heck of an ability to stuff the path of the puck with his stick.  He also has an impressive capability to limit shots and passes but he does it with the same level of pizzazz as stale bread. The point is Marincin is an underrated defensemen that actually plays defense but adds zero offense and the ability to sell zero jerseys. The Toronto Maple Leafs are lucky to have such a guy on their team. He started the season with limited minutes but finished  playing top line minutes with Morgan Reilly, sometimes reaching minutes in the high 20’s. It took him most of the season, but he earned Babcocks trust and the respect of many eye-test-only fans.. D. Toronto Maple Leafs. MARTIN MARINCIN

FRANK CORRADO. C. Frank Corrado became an early fan favorite even though he didn’t play a game until mid season. With Babcock keeping him in the press box as the Leafs continued to lose, critics worried that is would hurt the development of a young then 22 year old. Corrado eventually got into 39 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs recording 1 goal, 5 assists, and a 2.2 shooting percentage.  Corrado’s game did not shine in his first opportunity with the Maple Leafs and left fans wanting and expecting more from him. While he showed signs of competence, he was never able to show much dominance or reason to make Coach Babcock give him any more minutes than the 14 that he was given.  Corrado has the potential to be a good defensemen, and with a 54.43 CF% (in sheltered minutes) he showed that he is a good prospect.  But that is what he still is despite playing in 39 games this year. He is a prospect that couldn’t be sent down the the Marlies without losing him on waivers.  . D. Toronto Maple Leafs

JONATHAN BERNIER. F. Jonathan Bernier was given the starting job at the beginning of the season and was absolutely terrible. There is no sugar coating the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs started every game that Bernier was in net down 1-0. His ability to let in the first shot of the game can only be described as “very Leaf-like”. Bernier’s play was so poor that he agreed (!) to be sent down to the AHL on a conditioning stint to help get his confidence back.  While he was unbelievable for the few games that he played, when he came back he had lost the starting job for good to James Reimer and eventually Garret Sparks. With a season 908 SV%, Bernier lost his starting job to a goaltender that started the season as a back-up in the Marlies, played one game in the ECHL, and 17 ECHL games the season before (Garrett Sparks). Bernier’s play improved after his conditioning stint but it was too late to gain the trust of Coach Babcock again after his horrendous play. Mike Babcock consistently said that he would start the guy that gave the team the best chance to win and Bernier, the starting goalie at the beginning of the season, was not that goaltender.. G. Toronto Maple Leafs