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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 Maple Leafs
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 13: Nazem Kadri #43 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates after scoring in the third period of a game against the Boston Bruins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 13, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs Third Line

William Nylander 

Drafted seventh overall in 2014, Nylander was the second of four franchise cornerstones the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted between 2012 and 2016. (Rielly, Nylander, Marner, Matthews).

Statistically, Nylander hasn’t put up the numbers that Matthews or Marner has, but much of that is because of a lack of power-play opportunity.  Nylander has been one of the NHL’s best 5v5 players since he’s entered the NHL and is an world-talent and is deserving of a top-nine spot.

Nylander Totals: 66 Goals, 120 Assists, 186 Points (274 Career Leafs Games) 

Nazem Kadri

Despite the suspensions in the playoffs, Kadri was arguably the most reliable player for the Maple Leafs this decade.

Drafted 7th overall in 2009, Kadri is the fourth Brian Burke player to make this list.  Always playing with an edge, he turned into a two-way centre under the guidance of Mike Babcock.

Unfortunately for Kadri, the Leafs drafted Matthews and signed Tavares making him expendable.  They tried to make it work, but there just wasn’t the ice-time available to make a player like Kadri worthwhile on a third line.  He was too good for that role, so the Leafs traded him for Alex Kerfoot and Tyson Barrie. 

Kadri Totals: 161 Goals, 196 Assists, 357 Points (561 Career Leafs Games)

Zach Hyman

Hyman’s point totals aren’t worthy of him playing first line minutes, but his determination to get the puck and produce offence for others makes him a lock for the All-Decade team.

Once looked at as an innocent trade for two potential American Hockey League players, the swap of Greg McKegg for Hyman is one of the best trades this decade.

Zach Hyman is an underrated force on the Toronto Maple Leafs

Hyman Totals: 56 Goals, 67 Assists, 123 Points (267 Career Leafs Games)

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