Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Stars for the Month of December

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 19: From left, Jake Muzzin #8, Kasperi Kapanen #24, Auston Matthews #34, Nikita Zaitsev #22 and Zach Hyman #11 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skate down ice after Auston Matthews scored a goal during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 19, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Maple Leafs defeat the Bruins 2-1. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 19: From left, Jake Muzzin #8, Kasperi Kapanen #24, Auston Matthews #34, Nikita Zaitsev #22 and Zach Hyman #11 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skate down ice after Auston Matthews scored a goal during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 19, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Maple Leafs defeat the Bruins 2-1. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 4: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner #16 comes over the boards against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at the Scotiabank Arena on December 4, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 4: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner #16 comes over the boards against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at the Scotiabank Arena on December 4, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

2nd star – Mitch Marner

The Toronto Maple Leafs pay Marner a ton of money to produce points at a top tier rate. He did that in December.

Marner accumulated 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in just 12 games played. That slotted him 1st on the Maple Leafs and 4th across the entire league, with the three players ahead of Marner all playing 1-2 more games.

He didn’t just put up numbers cause he plays big minutes.

His efficiency was through the roof. Marner averaged 3.94 points per 60 at 5v5 and 10.27 per 60 on the man advantage, both of which ranked 1st among Leafs regulars.

As if the production was not enough, Marner also led the Toronto Maple Leafs in Corsi (55.06%), Expected Goals (56.97%), and posted a plus-6 goal differential at evens.

Not to mention a five point night against the Carolina Hurricanes in the infamous game before the Christmas break.

That was a $10.89 million month.