Editor In Leaf
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Toronto Maple Leafs: All That’s Left Is Minor Tinkering

By James Tanner

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 11: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) reacts to cashing in on his penalty shot during Game 1 of the First Round between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 11: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) reacts to cashing in on his penalty shot during Game 1 of the First Round between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have built one of the best teams in the NHL.

Now, you’re excused for not believing me.  The Toronto Maple Leafs results aren’t exactly lining up with their play.

As we learned last year with William Nylander (led the league in on-ice scoring chances per hour, led the Leafs in puck possession, and was among the best in the NHL in clean zone entries) if you don’t get the results, you won’t get the crowd.

Even when you deserve to.

Now keep in mind that the movie that wins Best Picture is almost never a crowd pleasing blockbuster, the world’s best band is almost never it’s most popular – so public perception has it’s value, but it’s not often correct.

It’s the same with hockey.   The public demands results, and woe unto the person who tries to look at the things that create those results and explain why they don’t always line up.

Toronto Maple Leafs Results

People are quick to point out that the Leafs are about a .500 team for the last 60 games and that they have roughly the same record as the Oilers over this time.

This is true, but without context, it’s meaningless.

Here is the context:

– You’re talking about two different teams.  Last year’s team featured at least four replacement players in prominent roles – Marleau, Brown, Hainsey and Zaitsev.

– Last year’s team didn’t play a single game with their optimal lineup.

– For the period in which most of these games took place, the Leafs were without one or more of Freddie Andersen, Nazem Kadri, Jake Gardiner and Travis Dermott.  Those are core pieces.  (Note they still haven’t played a game this year with their optimal lineup, and they won’t for another two weeks, minimum).

If when faced with context, you call it “excuses” then I am sorry, there’s no point in having this discussion.  The NHL is a league in which the difference between teams is marginal at best, and injuries and a few bad players play a huge role in equalizing the field.

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So let’s ignore last year, and stop using convenient end points to promote bad ideas. (if you want to use convenient end points, there was a quarter season period last year when the Leafs played at a 120 point pace and didn’t gain a point in the standings because Tampa and Boston were both on bizarre point streaks).

The Toronto Maple Leafs core is incredible, and arguably the best in the NHL.  Their early season performance has been impressive.  They have played one bad game in seven, and only sub-par goaltending has prevented them from a 6-1 record.

They lead the NHL in scoring, and have gotten such bad goaltending (under 89% save percentage) that it is guaranteed to get better.   A team with their talent won’t shoot under 9% for long.

When someone crunches the important numbers and runs simulations, the Leafs have a 92% chance of making the playoffs (that is 3rd highest).

A healthy Leafs roster is the best roster in the NHL.  They are set up for a great run, and all that is left is some minor tinkering (I include a possible new coach in this category).

I realize that this team has let you down in the past. I realize that it can be difficult to ignore short-term results and not let emotions cloud your judgement.

dark. Next. The Very Idea Is Preposterous...

But I strongly believe you should try to be positive and enjoy yourself.  Rosters like this don’t come along very often, and no one knows that better than Leafs fans.

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