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Josh Leivo Injured: Stats Say Leafs Need Him

By James Tanner

Mar 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Josh Leivo (32) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal in the first period against the New Jersey Devils at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Josh Leivo (32) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal in the first period against the New Jersey Devils at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs received some bad news on Saturday morning when it was announced Josh Leivo was injured.

Fresh off finally getting a chance to play, and scoring a goal, the Toronto Maple Leafs secret weapon, Josh Leivo was injured.

All the Leafs beat reporters have tweeted that Josh Leivo is injured, but so far no one has revealed what the injury is or whether it’s serious.  As you can see by the tweet above, Ben Smith is subbing in for Leivo, due to Soshnikov also being injured.

This is not good news, as Ben Smith has not been effective. In 35 games the Toronto Maple Leafs Smith has four points and is a 43% possession player. Not good.

On the list that includes Gauthier, Smith, Boyle, Fehr, Leivo, Martin and Soshnikov, Ben Smith would be ranked last.  Josh Leivo would be first.

Josh Leivo has ten points in 13 games. He has a 55% Corsi-For percentage.

Impressive statistics.  But what if we look deeper?

Seven of Josh Leivo’s ten points have come at 5v5.  Only one is a secondary assist. His Relative-Corsi is not even a full percentage point below even (Smith’s is -15%).

Whether you look at it from a traditional or advanced statistical standpoint, Leivo has been an effective player.  The shooting percentage with him on the ice is 9% which is about average – so it’s not like he’s just getting lucky.

Josh Leivo: Part of the Core?

The Leafs have been on a roll lately and have done great things to secure a playoff spot. Leivo hasn’t even been playing much, so it’s not like this is going to impact the team a whole lot.

It’s surprising they didn’t call someone up, because Smith has been that bad. And it isn’t optimum if Smith has to keep playing, but it’s fourth-line right wing. Let’s not blow this out of proportion.

If that if Leivo is out, it’s a great blow to their depth. How many teams are skating a player on the fourth line who is putting up very good second-line numbers?  I mean, they’re first-line numbers, but I’m trying to account for a little regression.

Leivo is a player who not only deserves to play, but should be playing higher in the lineup.  He’s the kind of player who makes trading JVR a whole lot more palatable (even though I’m still for re-signing him if he will go $6 or lower).   He gives the Leafs a ton of lineup options and flexibility.

Josh Leivo is playing his way into being considered one of the Leafs best prospects. If he keeps it up, he’s going to be joining Andersen, Gardiner, Rielly, Matthews, Nylander, Marne, Kadri and Martin as a core-member of this team (guys who are signed long-term).

The Leafs need Leivo.

All stats corsica.hockey

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