Toronto Maple Leafs End of the Season Awards

UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center John Tavares (91) sets up in front of New York Islanders Goalie Robin Lehner (40) during a game between the New York Islanders and the Calgary Flames on February 26, 2019 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center John Tavares (91) sets up in front of New York Islanders Goalie Robin Lehner (40) during a game between the New York Islanders and the Calgary Flames on February 26, 2019 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
BRIDGEPORT, CT – JANUARY 21: Andreas Johnsson

Rookie of the Year

The Calder this year will be going to Elias Petterson of the Vancouver Canucks, but Andreas Johnsson should at least get a few second or third place votes.

Johnsson has done an admirable job with the unenviable task of replacing James van Riemsdyk as the Leafs #1 left-winger.

Though he has a slow start, and though he missed several games with a concussion, Johnsson has had a great season.

The former seventh round pick has scored 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points in 71 games.  He’s a gritty player who doesn’t really get credit for how chippy and mean he actually is.  Additionally, he’s got wheels and has been a perfect fit for Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

Together, they have formed arguably the best line in hockey since they were put together about a month ago.

For a team with John Tavares and three early drafted forwards who are all on their way to being 90 point superstars, it’s an embarrassment of riches to turn a seventh round pick into a legitimate first line player.