Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: This Season’s Most Pleasant Surprises

Wilbert Timmermans

Ouch, that’s a tough one to answer.

In a way, James van Riemsdyk has been the perfect veteran on the wing. Scoring important goals, on pace for a career-high 34, during crucial moments using his silky smooth velvet hands.

The question if the Leafs should resign him has become hot again, morphing into how the Leafs should re-sign him. To see how much the dialogue around his free agency has changed proves a lot.

But even though JvR’s play has been great, for me, Morgan Rielly is the most pleasant surprise so far.

He’s broken out this year, not only in points but as a mature leader on the ice as well. He’s on pace for 60 points, by far the highest of his career, and has the best possession stats of any Leafs defenceman. Furthermore, he is constantly drawing the most difficult opposing matchups on a nightly basis.

Dare I say, he’s rounding into that number one defenceman the Leafs have needed for so long.

Controversial it may be, but, honestly, his play has broken the debate surrounding the Leafs captaincy wide open. And boy, is he doing everything he can to convince me he’s worthy of it.

But, I feel it’s only fair to mention the following players as runner-ups: Frederik Andersen, Auston Matthews and Ron Hainsey.