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Toronto Maple Leafs 2018-19 Player Grades

By James Tanner

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts to the crowd after the Leafs scored against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on October 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts to the crowd after the Leafs scored against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on October 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON-Toronto Maple Leafs Patrick Marleau gets smashed by P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators. in Toronto on Monday. This was the start of their tussle. (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star) (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON-Toronto Maple Leafs Patrick Marleau gets smashed by P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators. in Toronto on Monday. This was the start of their tussle. (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star) (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Patrick Marleau by James Tanner

Patrick Marleau has had a great career.  Whatever the Toronto Maple Leafs were counting on when they signed him, by all reports he has provided it.

But leadership aside, Patrick Marleau just can’t contribute to an NHL team anymore.  Marleau turns 40 before next season starts, and unfortunately, the years have caught up to him.

Marleau finished the year with 16 goals and 37 points, and the lowest points per minute mark among the team’s forwards.  Freddie Gauthier scored more points per minute.

LW. Toronto Maple Leafs. PATRICK MARLEAU. F.

Marleau’s Corsi was -2% relative to his team, negating any defense he may have provided to make up for his lack of offense.  Sadly, instead of giving the aged veteran a night or a week off to regroup and try to find his game, the Leafs embarrassingly put his iron-man streak ahead of team success.

Marleau was inneffective offensively and defensively. Babcock skated him just a minute less than Tavares and Matthews, and then doubled down on Marleau in the playoffs.

It didn’t work and won’t work next year.  Marleau has had a great career, but he’s got to put the team first and hang up his skates.

He gets an F.

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