Top 5 Most Valuable Players on the Toronto Maple Leafs This Season
The Toronto Maple Leafs were having an up-and-down year before the season was put on hold.
It was quite the season for the Toronto Maple Leafs before it came to a complete stop due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
From a poor start, to the firing of Babcock, to a hot start with Keefe, to a slow down with Keefe, and oh did I mention countless injuries too?
There were some key contributors for the team this season, some having career years, and some just being consistent throughout it all.
I’ll be going over my top 5 Toronto Maple Leafs MVP’s from the 2019-20 season so far, and if the season is indeed over then here are my top 5 MVP’s from this past season.
Before I start I had one player just miss the top 5 list, and in my opinion he has been a key part of the Maple Leafs bottom 6 consistently this year so I had to include him in this. Jason Spezza ladies and gentlemen.
Honorable Mention Jason Spezza
As my honorable mention I have the home town vet, Jason Spezza. Yes I know Spezza isn’t the best player on the team, but in my opinion he has been one of the most consistent players on the team and he’s playing 3rd/4th line minutes a night as well as 2nd power play unit minutes.
Spezza was brought to Toronto in the 2019 off-season when he signed a one year contract worth $700,000K and man… that is a great price for a player like Spezza. (Stats from CapFriendly.com)
Spezza’s Stats
Jason Spezza – 36 years old – Center/Right Wing
Throughout the 2019-20 season Jason Spezza has had a very good and consistent season for the kind of minutes he has been given.
Stats – GP 58 – 9G – 16A – 25 PTS (Stats from NHL.com)
To start the season Jason Spezza was sat out of the home opener against his former team the Ottawa Senators who drafted him back in 2001.
To this day I don’t know why then head coach Mike Babcock did that, and a lot of people were wondering what Jason Spezza’s role would truly be on this Toronto Maple Leafs team.
Well fast forward to 58 games played for the 36 year old and he has been one of the most consistent, and all around one of the great guys on this team (given the minutes he plays)
Aside from Spezza’s play on the ice, I can for sure say that he has had a tremendous impact to the younger players off the ice as well. Yes John Tavares is the captain, and Matthews, Marner, and Rielly have the “A” but a player like Jason Spezza and the amount of games he has played and just the type of guy he is, he has truly been a leader off the ice just as much as he has been on the ice.
5. Frederik Andersen
At my number five spot I have the man who has helped lead this team for the past four years, Frederik Andersen.
I know he hasn’t had the greatest season this year compared to his other three seasons prior as a Toronto Maple Leaf but he has still had some stellar performances this season and has stole some games for the team as well.
Andersen’s Stats
Frederik Andersen – 30 years old – Goalie
Throughout the 2019-20 season Frederik Andersen has had quite the up and down year, but mostly down in terms of his numbers yet he still found ways to win games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Stats – GP 52 – 23W – 13L – 7OTL – 3SO – 2.85 GAA – .909 SV% (Stats from NHL.com)
Frederik Andersen has been the back bone of this Toronto Maple Leafs team since his arrival in 2016, just ahead of the 2016-17 season. His numbers have been consistent in his first three years, but this season his numbers took a dive, yet his wins didn’t.
Through his first three years here are his numbers… (GAA & SV% wise)
2016-17 – 2.67 GAA – .918 SV%
2017-18 – 2.81 GAA – .918 SV%
2018-19 – 2.77 GAA – .917 SV%
(Stats from NHL.com)
Like I said earlier his numbers took a dive this year, yet he still found ways to win games for this team and currently has 29 wins and is fourth in the league in wins.
He was obviously on pace to have his fourth 30 win season in a row as a Maple Leaf, and his fifth 30 win season in his seven years in the league. He also might’ve hit the 35 win mark for the third straight year too, as well as his fourth time in his career.
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 25: Jake Muzzin . (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
4. Jake Muzzin
At my number four spot I have arguably the Toronto Maple Leafs best defensemen, Jake Muzzin.
Despite being injured two different times this season for an extended period, Muzzin has still been a big part on the back end for this team.
Muzzin’s Stats
Jake Muzzin – 31 years old – Defensemen
Stats – 53 GP – 6G – 17A – 23 PTS (Stats from NHL.com)
Like I was saying, despite his injuries that has side lined him in two separate occasions, Jake Muzzin has been an important piece on the defense for the Maple Leafs. He’s consistent, and his two way game is a treat to watch.
The reason why I have him in my top 5 for MVP’s for this Maple Leafs team is one, I already said he is and he has been one of if not, the best defensemen, as well as his veteran presence on this team on the ice as well as in the locker room plays a part.
Muzzin definitely deserves an “A” on this team, and he proves it with his insightful and honest comments following any disappointing game, or heartbreaking loss.
For example, he called his team out after a terrible loss in Pittsburgh back in late February. He owned up to his words as he helped lead the team to a bounce back 4-0 win over Pittsburgh less than 48 hours later.
Muzzin’s stat line during that 4-0 game: 1G – 2A – 3 PTS – 1 HIT – 4 BLK – 23:02 TOI
(Stats from NHL.com)
3. William Nylander
At my number three spot, I have the man 75% of Leafs nation wanted traded and might still want to get traded (not too sure). William Nylander.
From a horrible half season last year, to a career year in goals and would’ve been points this year if the season didn’t get out on pause Nylander has earned an MVP consideration in my opinion.
Nylander’s Stats
William Nylander – 23 years old – Right Wing
Stats – 68 GP – 31G – 28A – 59 PTS (Stats from NHL.com)
From his down year last year, to an amazing bounce back year this year. William Nylander, in my opinion has been one of the Maple Leafs best player this year especially with his consistency.
He is fourth on the team in points and has played the second most games out of those four players but I have him at third on this list for more than just his total points and his ability to bounce back this year.
Let’s start with his career high in goals with 31 as well as how he has scored almost all his goals from the inner slot after being known as only a “perimeter player”. He is tops of the league in inner slot goals to date too.
I gave him a consideration of the Toronto Maple Leafs MVP this season because of mainly his consistency during the season. He missed two games earlier on due to illness but still has 59 points in 68 games played. Along with his stats, he has put together numerous point streaks throughout the season.
He has gone on three 5 game point streaks, and one long 9 game point streak. As well as numerous three game point streaks too. In those point streaks Nylander has racked up a total of 36 points in 24 games played. (Stats from NHL.com)
2. Mitch Marner & John Tavares
Yes I know I have two players at my number two spot on my list but I think they both deserve some recognition and are tied for a spot, even though it seemed like at times both players have done nothing for the team.
I have Mitch Marner and John Tavares.
Marner’s Stats & Tavares’ Stats
Mitch Marner – 22 years old – Right Wing
John Tavares – 29 years old – Center
Marner stats – 59 GP – 16G – 51A – 67 PTS (Stats from NHL.com)
Tavares stats – 63 GP – 26G – 34A – 60 PTS (Stats from NHL.com)
The reason why I have both Marner and Tavares tied for number two on my list is because they have both missed more than five games this season yet have still contributed to a part of this team as well both have at least 60 points in at least basically 60 games played (59 games for Marner though)
Although I may have to say both these players have looked MIA at times this season especially Marner in the last month of hockey, he still missed 11 games and is well over a point per game player and is a definitely a top 3 player on this Toronto Maple Leafs team.
For Tavares, he is the teams captain and he might not be on the goal pace he set last year with 47 but he was on pace for another 30 goal season and still dished out some assists with 34 on the year at the time of the leagues pause.
Both these players are super important to the team for more than one reason, and they have both deserved an MVP consideration in my opinion. Although, you guys may already know who my number one pick is for the Toronto Maple Leafs MVP this season, and it shouldn’t be a shock by now as he deserves it with out a doubt.
EDMONTON, AB – DECEMBER 14: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
1. Auston Matthews
Now we have reached the number one spot, and for my number one spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs MVP this season I have the best 5v5 goal scorer in the league and one of the best goal scorers in general in the league, Auston Matthews.
Matthews’ Stats
Auston Matthews – 22 years old – Center
Stats – 70 GP – 47G – 33A – 80 PTS (Stats from NHL.com)
The reason why there were so many injuries to this Toronto Maple Leafs team this year is simply because Auston Matthews had a fully healthy season and that’s what us Leafs fans get in return.
After playing a full 82 game season in his rookie year, Matthews missed 20 games in the 17/18 season and 14 games in the 18/19 season. Staying healthy was a concern and question for Matthews and Leaf fans and hockey fans were wondering what could Matthews do if he played a full season again? (Stats from NHL.com)
Well ladies and gentlemen… we witnessed what Matthews is capable of doing in a healthy year and he is only going to get better with age.
With this full season of Auston Matthews he was able to set a new career high in goals (47), points (80), and was on his way to set a new career high in assists as he was at 33 and his career high is 36.
Before the season came to a stop, we were all talking about Auston Matthews potentially hitting the 50 goal mark in just his fourth season in the NHL.
As well maybe breaking the Toronto Maple Leafs record for most goals in a single season with 54 held by Rick Vaive. By the way its obvious by now, yes Matthews was on pace for 50 plus goals as well as breaking Vaive’s record too.
So there really isn’t too much else to say about Matthews and his amazing season through 70 games, it is pretty obvious he is the Toronto Maple Leafs MVP this season as he took a massive step in his career.
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Let me know who your Toronto Maple Leafs MVP this season is, as well as maybe your top 5 list.