Toronto Maple Leafs: Three Stars for the Month of November

November was a wild month for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Despite early struggles, and going through a coaching change, the Toronto Maple Leafs managed to go over .500 and post a higher points percentage than teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames.

While, on aggregate, it was still a very up-and-down few weeks, there were plenty of positives – especially after Sheldon Keefe took over as head coach.

Let’s take a closer look at three of them in our three stars of the month.

3rd star – William Nylander

Nylander cracks my list for the second month in a row. Once again, it was an easy decision to pencil him in.

Nylander continues to show last season’s offensive struggles were anything but the norm. He potted five goals at 5v5 – matched only by Kasperi Kapanen – while pacing the team in points (10), primaries (9), shots on goal (40), and Grade A scoring chances (23).

He was able to generate opportunities in dangerous areas on a more consistent basis than anyone else – not bad for a soft perimeter guy! – and he was rewarded accordingly.

Although Auston Matthews bested Nylander in total point production, a strong case could be made for Nylander as the team’s best offensive player in November.

Nylander also had a strong month analytically, slotting top-5 on the team in Corsi For%, Expected Goals For%, and finishing with a positive on-ice goal differential.

That $6.9M cap hit sure looks pretty friendly right now.

2nd star – Frederik Andersen

The Great Dane was nothing short of spectacular in November.

He started the month by stealing the Maple Leafs two points in Philadelphia, making 37 saves and posting a .925 save percentage in a 4-3 shootout victory.

That was just a preview of what was to come as Andersen went on to win six more starts, five of which he conceded one goal or fewer.

All told, he finished with a 7-3-1 record and posted a ridiculous .938 save percentage – bested only by Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

After somewhat of an up-and-down October, Andersen really locked things down in November. He picked no better time given the coaching change and off-ice drama the Maple Leafs had to go through.

1st star – Sheldon Keefe

I never thought I’d be writing up a coach, let alone as the *1st star* of the month, but it’s a crazy world we’re living in.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have gone 4-1-0 under their new bench boss and the numbers suggest that is no fluke.

They have controlled 55.11% of the shot attempts, 57.67% of the expected goals, and 59.09% of the actual goals at 5v5. All three totals are up from where they were under Mike Babcock, with the differences in the latter two pushing 10%. 10%!

Keefe has pushed all the right buttons. He’s altered line combinations previously set in stone, with essentially a perfect success rate at that.

I really think this could be the start of something special.

(numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com)

 Ilya Mikheyev has taken on a bigger role and made the most of it. Tyson Barrie has the green light to jump into the play and do Tyson Barrie things.

It’s paying off. Jason Spezza looks like he did five years ago, and there is no shortage of other positive changes we’ve seen.