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A Look into the Toronto Maple Leafs Early Success

By Jourdan Jones |
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 09: (L-R) Morgan Rielly #44, Auston Matthews #34, Nazem Kadri #43, John Tavares #91 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate the second goal of the game by Matthews against the Dallas Stars in the second period at American Airlines Center on October 9, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 09: (L-R) Morgan Rielly #44, Auston Matthews #34, Nazem Kadri #43, John Tavares #91 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate the second goal of the game by Matthews against the Dallas Stars in the second period at American Airlines Center on October 9, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 3: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his game winning goal during overtime against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 3, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 3: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his game winning goal during overtime against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 3, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs sit at 6-2 in their first eight games of the season, gathering 12 points of a possible 16.

The hot start has been complimented by Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly, who both sit atop the National Hockey League in scoring. The Toronto Maple Leafs are first in Goals For with 33, with the next best Carolina Hurricanes sitting eight goals away from the blue and white at 25.

Contributing to those great numbers is the ever-so-deadly power play, which is top in the NHL at a 47.4% and is anchored by Matthews, Rielly, Mitch Marner, Nazem Kadri, and John Tavares.

Going forward, the team needs to improve their defense, but regardless, they are off to a great start.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 21: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs moves the puck in front of Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 21: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs moves the puck in front of Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Auston Matthews

Since the day Matthews entered the league in 2016/2017, scoring four goals in his NHL debut, we knew he would become a prolific goal scorer.

The superstar centre has shown much promise after posting record numbers through the first seven games this season. Matthews is blowing away fans with his explosiveness and offensive flair thus far with 10 goals and six assists, while playing alongside Kasperi Kapanen, who has been a major surprise.

Matthews has impressively surpassed his start to the previous two campaigns after scoring 10 goals in just six games. It took him 22 games to score 10 goals his rookie year in 2016/2017 and only 14 games the year after in 2017/18. Both impressive starts to a season, Matthews has once again impressed fans scoring at an insane pace.

Over the summer Matthews took it upon himself to improve an area of his game that has already proved to be one of his many major strengths, his shot.

Matthews has a shooting percentage of 44.5%, scoring 10 goals on 22 shots, which is top in the NHL (for players with over 10 shots on goal). The improved shot has contributed to his early season success and is showing his work over the summer has paid off.

With a dramatic start to the season, Matthews may see some regression, but it’s not out of the question to say he will score 50 goals by seasons end.

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 11: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third period goal with Nazem Kadri #43 and Morgan Rielly #44 while playing the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on October 11, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Toronto won the game 4-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 11: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third period goal with Nazem Kadri #43 and Morgan Rielly #44 while playing the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on October 11, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Toronto won the game 4-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Morgan Rielly

The second longest tenured Maple Leaf, drafted 5th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Rielly has picked up where he left off last season when he had 50 points and should have been nominated over P.K Subban as a Norris Trophy finalist.

Breaking records set by Bobby Orr for the fastest start by a defenseman with 12 points in seven games, it’s safe to say that Rielly is off to a strong start this season.  After scoring at a record pace to start the year, Rielly is an early favourite to win this years Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman.

He might not keep up the scoring pace, but when you consider that he’s partnered with Ron Hainsey, his performance is even better.

With three goals and 13 points through his clubs first seven games, Rielly has improved their defensive core’s outlook. The Vancouver, British Columbia native owns a healthy Corsi For Percentage (CF%) of 52.4% , a number in which calculates his even strength control of the puck and proves his ability to control the game. A strong CF% proves that Rielly is not only helping on the offensive side, but the defensive side as well.

TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 3: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 3, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 3: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 3, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

John Tavares and Mitch Marner

The prized Unrestricted Free Agent signing by the Leafs this past off-season, Tavares has shown he can live up to the hype, to the surprise of no one.

Putting up a spectacular six goals and 11 points thus far through seven games while alongside Marner, the two have combined for 22 points and have looked like a dynamic duo. The fact that this is the Leafs second line is completely bizarre.

It was thought that with one of the Leafs elite centres taking the other team’s best line every game, that the other one would slice through secondary units, and this has proven to be the case.  The opposing coaches have had no choice but to throw whatever they have at Matthews, leaving Tavares and Marner free to pretty much do what they want (or at least it seems like they can).

Before signing with the Leafs, Tavares was promised he would see time with Marner, which was beneficial to him while making his decision, as described by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Marner has turned into one of the premier young stars in the game. With a breakout season a year ago in which he posted 22 goals and 69 points, Marner is continuing to show his superstar status.

TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 31: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes a face-off against John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders during the third period at the Air Canada Centre on January 31, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 31: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes a face-off against John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders during the third period at the Air Canada Centre on January 31, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Stunning Special Teams

There’s a message going around the NHL, don’t take a penalty against the Leafs. With an arsenal that includes Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Kadri, and Rielly on the top power play unit, their ability to score is unmatched. With a 47.4% success rate as a team, it’s safe to say its a deadly one and may be the best in the entire league.

The Leafs also own a penalty kill percentage of 84.2%, good enough for 8th in the league, showing their consistency. The penalty kill has been strong all season long, even with the departure of top penalty killers from a year ago in Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov.

Offensive Outburst

There was no question that the Leafs were going to score many goals this season. Proving so through their first seven games, as they stand alone at the top of the NHL in Goals For with 33 and Goals For Per Game at 4.71. This Leafs offence is putting together a special start.

What’s even more impressive is the Toronto Maple Leafs are scoring at a high pace with no William Nylander, their third leading scoring a season ago with 61 points. The restricted free agent is yet to play this season and currently in a battle with Leafs management, seeking a high pay day. When he signs, this offence will get even more potent.

Leafs Looking to Build Off Early Success

At the beginning of the season, betting odds for the Stanley Cup showed the Leafs as the team to beat. Becoming victorious over the former Stanley Cup Champion, Washington Capitals and most recently, the Los Angeles Kings, the Leafs are showing they’re for real.

Can Matthews Score 100 Goals?. dark. Next

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to build off early season success as they attempt to win the team’s first Stanley Cup in 305 years.

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