With the 2021 NHL season starting in just 13 days, here is a look at some milestones that might be reached by Toronto Maple Leafs players.
With some rookies looking to score their first NHL goal, and some veterans looking to add to their impressive numbers. This season could see many players on the Toronto Maple Leafs reach some pretty big milestones.
Due to the season being shorter than normal, some milestones will have to wait until next season. A shortened season really hurts the games played stats. Especially for the veteran players who might only have a season two left in the NHL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could have more than 15 players reaching milestones this season. Here is a closer look at those players and what milestones they might reach this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Players And Milestones
Jason Spezza
Jason Spezza is entering his 18th season in the NHL and could reach a total of three milestones this season. He is just 27 games away from reaching 1,150 NHL games played. Spezza is also just nine goals away from reaching 350 career goals.
The easiest milestone on his list for this season is needing one assist to reach 600 career assists. (All stats from hockey-reference.com)
Joe Thornton
Joe Thornton is about to play in his 23rd NHL season at the age of 41 years-old. He is close to reaching two significant milestones this season. The first milestone for him is for games played. Thornton is just 14 games shy of reaching 1,650 games played in the NHL. If he plays in 17 games this season he will move into 6th all-time for NHL games played.
He is also just 11 assists away from reaching 1,100 career assists. Thornton already sits in 7th place all-time for NHL assists. He needs to collect 47 more assists to pass Paul Coffey and move into 6th place.
John Tavares
Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares is close to reaching two milestones this season. He needs to play in 36 games to reach career game number 850. The other milestone he is close to achieving is for points. He only needs 31 points this season to reach 800 career NHL points.
Wayne Simmonds
Wayne Simmonds is one of the newest members of the Toronto Maple Leafs and he has two of the easiest milestones to reach. He is two assists away from recording 250 career NHL assists and just one point away from reaching career point number 500.
T.J. Brodie
T.J. Brodie is close to achiving three milestones this season. He is only 16 games away from having 650 NHL games played. The new Leafs defenseman is also just two goals away from reaching goal number 50. He is also 34 points shy of collecting point number 300.
Auston Matthews
The lucky number for Auston Matthews this season will be 300. The superstar forward is 18 games shy of reaching 300 NHL games played. He is also just 15 points shy of collecting NHL point number 300.
Morgan Rielly
Having a new defense partner like Brodie will help Morgan Rielly play his style of game to the fullest. This should help him reach the 30 points he needs to collect NHL point number 300 in his 7th year as a Toronto Maple Leafs player.
Mitch Marner
Last season Mitch Marner reached career game number 300. This season he could reach two more milestones. He needs 17 goals to reach NHL goal number 100 and while doing that, he will also get the nine points he needs to reach NHL point number 300.
Zach Bogosian
Zach Bogosian should get enough playing time to reach three milestones that he is close to achiving. He needs to play six more games to reach 650 NHL games played. If Bogosian can collect seven more assists, he’ll reach career assist number 150 and in doing so he will also reach career point number 200.
William Nylander
Just like Marner, William Nylander reached the 300 game milestone last season. This season we could see Nylander reach NHL goal number 100. It shouldn’t be too hard as he only needs 14 goals to do so.
Jake Muzzin
Jake Muzzin needs to play in 21 games to reach career game number 600. He also needs 10 assists to reach career assist number 200.
Frederik Andersen
Frederik Andersen needs to play in 31 more games to reach career game number 400. With 24 games this season, Andersen will pass Harry Lumley and move into 6th place for games played (268) as a Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender. With 27 games played, he will pass Curtis Joseph and move into 5th place for games played (271) as a Leafs goaltender.
Zach Hyman
If Zach Hyman can play in 48 games this season, he will reach 350 NHL games played. He could also collect career assist number 100 if he can pick up 19 assists this season.
Jimmy Vesey
If Jimmy Vesey can earn a permanent spot on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster this season and if he can play in 46 games, he’ll reach 350 NHL games played. He is also one goal shy of career goal number 60.
Travis Dermott
Travis Dermott will need to play in 43 games this season to reach 200 NHL games played. If he can also pick up nine points along the way, he’ll earn NHL point number 50.
Justin Holl
Justin Holl should see plenty of ice time this season if he can keep his spot on the 2nd defense pairing with Muzzin. If he does, he should easily be able to play in the 19 games he needs to reach 100 NHL games played.
Nicholas Robertson / Mikko Lehtonen
Both of these Toronto Maple Leafs newcomers will be looking to achive many milestones this season. First NHL regular season game, first NHL goal, first NHL assist, and first NHL point. All of these will be exciting achievements for both of these players.
Although this season will be a shortened season, it could be very memorable for many of the Toronto Maple Leafs players. Whether it’s a players playing in their first game or a veteran playing in game number 1,650, there is a lot to look forward to this season.
Happy New Year!!!