Toronto Maple Leafs: Move Josh Leivo Up the Lineup

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been getting improved contributions from their depth scoring in recent weeks.

Following their 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs reached the top of the NHL standings. There has been plenty of reasons that have made this a reality.

Obviously, the star players on the Leafs are playing as expected and leading the way on offence. The goaltending as a whole has been dependable and fairly consistent. Of course, they have also seen greatly improved play from their depth which has stepped up in the absence of Auston Matthews.

One such player that has really improved his play is Josh Leivo. Having already played the most games in a season so far in his career, Leivo has been performing well despite being far down the depth chart. This past week was perhaps his best stretch of the season.

As a result, he should at least be in consideration for a bigger role in the near future.

Strong underlying numbers

Taking a look at Leivo’s stats to up to this point, he has just 2 goals and 2 assists so far. While these numbers alone don’t jump off the page, his underlying stats are impressive, to say the least.

As of November 18, Leivo has a 58.15 Corsi-for%, a 58.62 SF%, a 66.01 SCF%, and a 66.22 HDCF%. What these mean is that he has been a positive offensive contributor for the Leafs whenever he is on the ice both in terms of possession and scoring chances.

Additionally, this shot map by Bill Comeau shows that Leivo has done a great job of getting most of his scoring chances down low. He very rarely takes a low percentage shot from a long distance, as his average shot distance is 27.4 feet.

Perhaps what is most impressive about all of his stats is that Leivo has done this with less than ideal minutes (10:34 on average). As per Frozen Tools, his most frequent linemates are Frederik Gauthier and Tyler Ennis which has been decent based on the underlying stats.

So while the offensive production may not be there (he does have a 7.1 shooting %), his underlying stats suggest he has done a sensational job for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This past week, he was very noticeable a vast majority of the time.

One thing that really stands out about Leivo’s game is how strong he is on the forecheck and in puck battles. He is blessed with good size (6’2”, 192 pounds), and has used it to his advantage a number of times.

Because Leivo is a pretty fast skater, and because he shoots so much and isn’t afraid to get involved physically, he is noticeable in almost every game and gives the Leafs a legitimate top-six threat from the bottom of their lineup.

Leivo should also score more once the Leafs are fully healthy and Frederick Gauthier comes out of the lineup and is replaced with someone a little more offensive oriented.  That is, unless he’s moved up the lineup first.

Conclusion

It is really clear that Leivo has really elevated his game in recent weeks. He has been a positive on-ice contributor and his play at both ends of the ice has been both impressive and noticeable for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In order for his true potential to be unlocked, he needs to move up the lineup and play with more skilled players. While Ennis and Gauthier haven’t necessarily been bad thus far, they shouldn’t be Leivo’s linemates longterm.

If he was on the ice more frequently with a strong playmaker (say Mitch Marner or John Tavares), that could allow Leivo to both get better offensive chances and showcase his abilities. Combine this with all the power play time he has been getting already, then he could soon become a 20 goal, 40 point type of forward.

Leivo shouldn’t be on the fourth line much longer and his play has proven he is more than ready for an increased role. Once he gets that bigger opportunity, don’t be surprised when he starts to thrive.

Thanks for reading!

All stats unless otherwise noted are from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference.