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Toronto Maple Leafs Top 12 Forwards of the Decade

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews #34 looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews #34 looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 4: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 4, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Avalanche defeated the Maple Leafs 3-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 4: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 4, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Avalanche defeated the Maple Leafs 3-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs All-Decade Second Line

James Van Riemsdyk 

Just like the first line, this second line is incredibly skilled.

James Van Riemsdyk became one of the most consistent Leafs of the decade and was a power-play specialist in front of the net.

Acquired for Luke Schenn by Brian Burke in 2012, in what may be one of the most favorable trades the Leafs have made, JVR played the prime of his career for the Leafs and he was spectacular.

He had a career high 36 goals 2017.  He scored 30 twice, and in what may have been his best overall season, scored 27 times in 66 games before walking away as an UFA in 2018.

 JVR Totals:154 Goals, 140 Assists, 294 Points (413 Career Leafs Games) 

John Tavares

The Toronto maple Leafs signed John Tavares to the biggest free agent contract in the history of the NHL, and it paid off immediately.

With 47 goals in his first season with the Leafs, Tavares shows nightly that he’s one of the best centres in the NHL.  His numbers are strong across the board, and he’s one of the best overall players in the NHL.

What more could you ask for?  Only Auston Matthews and his otherwordly talents prevent Tavares from being the Leafs best Centre of the decade.

Tavares Totals: 60 Goals, 53 Assists, 113 Points (110 Career Leafs Games) 

Joffrey Lupul

Another excellent trade by Brian Burke, Joffrey Lupul was either the most injury prone player of all-time, or the unluckiest.

He may not have played often, but  Lupul delivered when he was healthy. His 2011-12 season of 25-42-67 in 66 games was a year to remember, and although he found himself out of the lineup more often than in it, he was a deserved All-Star that year.

Lupul Totals: 79 Goals, 85 Assists, 164 Points (252 Career Leafs Games) 

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