A Profile of Every New Toronto Maple Leafs Player Part 1 – Centres

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added an entire new collection of players this offseason, find out what each of them brings to the table.

When the Toronto Maple Leafs entered the offseason, there was a feeling among Leafs Nation that the team would need to retool.

The team faced salary cap challenges and their defense left something to be desired for a championship contender.

Few people could have foreseen just how dramatic the roster turnover would be. With over a dozen new players joining the team this offseason, there is a lot to cover.

The team has added players via NHL free agency, the 2019 draft, trades, and in what is becoming a trend for the Toronto Maple Leafs, signing international free agents.

In part one of this series, we’ll take a look at the team’s new collection of centres and what they can contribute to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Alexander Kerfoot

Acquired from the Colorado Avalanche via trade

Age: 24

A creative playmaker with great hands, Alexander Kerfoot has serious upside. Kyle Dubas was quick to mention the organization’s excitement about acquiring Alexander Kerfoot, despite public perception that Tyson Barrie was the centrepiece of the trade with the Colorado Avalanche.

Kerfoot scored 44 points/82 games in his first two seasons, despite only playing 14 minutes/game with the Avalanche. According to NHL.com, only one other player (Thomas Vanek) who plays 14 minutes or less per game over the past two seasons has matched Kerfoot’s point production.

While there is no guarantee that Kerfoot will play more minutes on a talent-saturated Leafs squad, his history is a strong indicator that he will be able to replicate his previous production even without top-6 minutes.

Kerfoot also dramatically improved his face-off percentage to 56.0% last season in just under 500 attempts, suggesting that he could effectively slot in as the 3rd line centre behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares. His skill also makes him a suitable candidate to play up the lineup in the event of injuries, where his scoring rates could soar.

There are very few things to dislike about Kerfoot’s game, but he is undersized at 5’10” and 175 pounds and lacks a physical element to his game, something the Leafs struggle with as a whole.

All things considered, Kerfoot provides a lot of positive value, especially considering his newly signed contract value of $3.5M/year for four years. With only two years of NHL experience under his belt, Kerfoot’s game should continue to grow.

Jason Spezza

Signed in Free Agency on July 1st

Age: 36

Picking up Jason Spezza on a 1-year $700K contract came was a solid value pickup for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Spezza lacks the scoring prowess of his former self, but he certainly does provide an experienced veteran presence with over 1,000 NHL games and 900 points in his career.

Spezza has had to accept a different role in recent years, seeing his time on the ice drop to around 13 minutes/game and becoming largely a faceoff specialist. He has been rather successful in this new role and even led the NHL in faceoff percentage last season (58.2%).

He hasn’t reached the 30-point mark in either of his last two seasons, but his low shooting percentage hasn’t helped him in that regard. Former teammate Marc Methot had a lot to say about his mentorship qualities as well:

“I can’t stress enough how great of a person he is in the locker room mentoring young players and helping out. He is unbelievable. He is such a smart, intelligent person. He has so much hockey knowledge. And he just loves the game. He’s so passionate.” – Marc Methot

Spezza has been vocal about his desire to win and play for the Leafs, saying “There were more lucrative opportunities, but the Leafs are in a position where they are trying to win right now.”

At this stage of their careers, Spezza essentially serves as a capable replacement to Patrick Marleau, but at a $5.55M lower price tag. While footspeed may be a problem for him, expect Spezza to secure the 4th line centreman role and chip in 20-30 points provided that he stays healthy.

Rapid Fire:

Nick Shore

Signed via free agency July 1st

Age: 26

Nick Shore is a journeyman centre with 18 points/82 games in 236 games in his career. Last season, Shore surprisingly left the NHL to play overseas in the KHL, despite being an NHL mainstay the year before.

Shore profiles as a defensively responsible depth centreman with solid possession stats, but he will have to fight to see NHL ice time due to the Leafs depth at forward. He will likely slot interchangeably with Frederik Gauthier as the team’s 5th centreman.

Aaron Luchuk

Acquired from the Ottawa Senators via trade

Age: 22

Aaron Luchuk split time between the AHL and ECHL last season. Although he likely won’t factor into this year’s Leafs squad, he did claim the OHL scoring title in 2017-18 with 115 points in 68 games, showing legitimate offensive upside.

Draft Picks

The Leafs drafted two centremen in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL draft. Both Mikhail Abramov (115th overall) and Nick Abruzzese (124th overall) will need time below the NHL level to develop.

18-year-old Mikhail Abramov scored 54 points in 62 games in the QMJHL last season. The Leafs Nick Abruzzese  as an overaged 20-year-old who led the USHL with 80 points in 62 games last season. As a physical late bloomer, Abruzzese is the poster boy for boom or bust potential.