Top 10 Toronto Maple Leafs Moments of the 2021 Season (So Far)

The 2021 NHL Season has been action-packed with memorable moments, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are no stranger to them.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a third the way through their regular-season journey, and as fans are months without any hockey, we cannot complain about the season they have put together for us.

The Leafs currently sit atop both the Scotia North Division and the NHL with 30 points and a record of 14-3-2. From sensational saves to gritty fights and then a plethora of superb goals to top it all off, these Leafs are creating moments to remember, and today I’m here to take you through the Top 10 thus far this season.

10. Freddy Staying Steady in Contract Year

Frederik Andersen in his time as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been known to have shaky starts to seasons and then turn it up as we go through the year. Now, a third through the season, Freddy seems to be in mid-season form and playing up to his highest ability.

In the 16 games that the 31-year-old goaltender has appeared this season, Freddy has compiled an NHL Leading record of 11-3-2 with a GAA of 2.69 and a SV% of .905 (courtesy of hockey-reference.com). An even more impressive stat is that in 8 of Freddy’s 16 starts, he has only allowed 2 goals or less – not bad right?

However, then to top that is that Freddy is making the timely saves.

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1355709107911716865

Even though that Justin Holl failed to take away the passing lane, Freddy makes the perfect read on the play to get across and make the game-saving save for the Leafs.

Now yes, Frederik Andersen is currently in a contract year. It is quite common for that to affect players and put a great amount of pressure on them, thus forcing them to underperform. This doesn’t seem to be the case for Freddy and if he can keep it up into playoffs, god forbid we don’t get there, then there’s a good chance the Toronto Maple Leafs take the Scotia North Division by storm and end up in the conference finals.

8. Wayne Simmonds Is (Was) Back

We all have heard the story of Wayne Simmonds before coming to Toronto. Back in Philadelphia, he was a great powerplay option and an even better net-front presence who was never going to shy away from any bout or tilt.

Unfortunately, after being traded to Nashville in 2019 and then bouncing around to New Jersey to Buffalo, Simmonds could never really find a home to fit.  But after an extended COVID off-season, Wayne Simmonds was ready to come back healthier and more determined than ever. After signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs in October, Simmonds had this to say to the media,

“I can play the game, but at the same time, I can punch your head off if need be… Anything happens to the boys, I’ll be the first to jump in”

It didn’t take long for Simmonds to live up to his word. In just his first game with the Leafs, Simmonds chucked ’em to fire up his squad before an overtime victory over Montreal.

In his first few games with the Leafs, Simmonds was playing well too, he just couldn’t find the back of the net. After going 6 games scoreless it finally started to click for the Scarborough native. Over his next 6 games, Simmonds would pot home 5 goals in a very limited role.

The dirtiest of the bunch came in his last game before unfortunately being injured. Simmonds would finish with 2 goals that night.

It really was too bad that Simmonds was injured just as he was coming into his own. Simmonds is still expected to be out another 4 weeks with a broken hand.

7. The Thornton – Marner – Matthews Connection

Remember at the start of the season where people started questioning ‘How long is this experiment going to last? Can’t be long right?’ Well with the results we’ve seen thus far, I think it’s here to stay.

Jumbo was unfortunately injured with a broken rib in just his 5th game with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The injury would sideline Thornton for nearly a month before Thornton would return as good as ever.

In his first four games since back with the Toronto Maple Leafs Jumbo has had 6 points. He currently sits with 9 points in 9 games.

Now as far as chemistry among the line of Thornton-Matthews-Marner – well the proof is in the pudding. I’ll just let this Thronton scoring log speak for itself:

There’s proof on not only the scoresheet but also the ice. This clip from just Thursday night is just spectacular. It’s not that any of them are spectacular moves individually, but together what they made was a masterpiece of a play.

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1362567427897384960

Each of Thornton, Matthews, and Marner read off each other perfectly and it ends up in the back of the net. This wasn’t the first time we saw a great passing play between the group of them, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

The Jumbo Experiment was successful and it’s one that is going to stay until something big halts it.

6. The Emergence of Justin Holl on Toronto Maple Leafs Blueline

Justin Holl has been a great surprise for the Leafs this year. Holl has come out strong on a pairing with Jake Muzzin and solidified the Leafs Top-4.

Holl battled for 8 years after being drafted before making the NHL and it seems that that journey and its grizzled experience it gave him has helped him.  Over 18 games this season, Justin Holl is playing an average of 21:34 a night, and as apart of the shutdown pairing with Jake Muzzin, Justin Holl sits second in team shot blocks with 32 and third in hits with 30 (courtesy: hockey-reference.com).

Defensively, Holl is smart. He takes away passing lanes and uses his big 6’4″ 204 lbs frame to force players off the puck and drive the play into less dangerous areas. Offensively, Holl is having a coming-out party. He sits with 7 points in 19 games and over the last week, he’s had not one, but two highlight-reel plays.

The first came in a victory over the Canadiens. Holl loaded up from the point for an absolute bomb to send past Carey Price.

The second came just last Wednesday in a win against Ottawa. Here, Holl takes the puck at the point and does just one small thing so, so right. Once he walks in, he waits for just another half-second to sell the shot so well before sending a  pass to set up Auston Matthews for a perfect one-timer goal.

Justin Holls play this year has impressed fans, the media, his teammates, and his coaches – now he’s finally being rewarded for it. Let’s just hope he can keep Holl-ing the blue line well.

5. Matthews and Marner Respond to McDavids Magical Goal

I told you that Matthews would reappear on this list and well, here he is.

For the second time in just over a calendar year, Connor Mcdavid undressed the Leafs for another one of his career highlight goals.  How did the Toronto Maple Leafs respond to Mcdavid? Well, Matthews and Marner gave McDavid a taste of their own magic.

For McDavid, there’s no question his speed and hands are the primary reasons for most of his goals, those are his two main skillsets. For Matthews, what’s his? His shot obviously, and his ability to get to the right spot to score. Marner? Mitch Marner’s vision on the ice paired along with his exquisite hockey IQ make him one of the most dangerous passers in the League.

When you put Matthew’s skillsets along with Marner’s, they are one of the most dynamic duos in the league, and this goal is just proof of that.

Craig Simpson’s reaction at the end of that call describes it just perfectly, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

They may not be McDavid, but that’s not a bad thing because instead they’re Marner and Matthews.

4. William Nylander Continues to Shut Up the Haters

If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me “He doesn’t even try”, “They should trade him for a defenseman”, or “He looks so lazy on the ice”, or even any variation of that, I would probably be able to afford one year of William Nylander at $6.9 million (and keep in mind, that’s a bargain).

To start off, I want to reiterate how great Nylander’s production was last year. In a shortened season last year, William Nylander was on pace for a 37 goal, 70 point season, which is not bad for “a guy who doesn’t try”.

This season, Nylander has continued his great production with 5 goals and 14 points in 19 games played. In an 82 game season, that is on pace for 22 goals and 60 points. That may not be the same great totals as last year, but for someone getting less ice time than previous years and playing in a second-line wing spot as well as a second PP unit spot, that’s not too bad.

Regarding his possession numbers, William Nylander currently sits atop the team’s Corsi stats (among players who have played more than 10 games) with a CF% of 51.83%.  Also, the Leafs get 53.25% of the scoring chances when William Nylander is on the ice –  not bad underlying numbers (stats: naturalstattrick.com)

As far as what he does on the ice, people need to realize he does the right things. He’s in the right places at the right times and makes crisp passes to open ice to find players to score.

As far as where his production will go from here, expect William Nylander to up his point totals because he does objectively deserve more.

3. Jason Spezza Takes Us Back to ’07

We all love Jason Spezza. He brings heart to the team and puts in 110% every night. Why shouldn’t we love the guy? He strictly had said earlier this season that if any other team had picked him up on waivers that he would retire. The guy wants to win as a Leaf and nothing else!

That’s why no one (except maybe Canucks Fans) was mad when Spezza scored a Hattrick a couple of weeks ago.  He scored the first one off of the powerplay with a retro slap slot to beat Thatcher Demko.  The second one would come from a Nic Petan driving up the wing sending a perfect saucer pass to Spezza for him to rifle home.

The third was the best of all. Straight of the ’07 season, Spezza dashed past Alex Edler before making a quick move to the forehand to just slide the puck in and around Demko.

There were no hats on the ice at the Scotiabank Arena that night but you could still feel the excitement through your TV, and with all the goals this season, it’s hard to believe that that is the lone hattrick for the Leafs this season.

2. Marner the Magician

Should we really be surprised at this point? Mitch Marner has some of the best hands in the world and that paired with his improved shot this year makes for one dangerous player at all times.

Here,  Rielly on the blueline spots a guy with 16 on the back of his jersey down low just below the hash marks ready for a pass and with a little bit of space.

After taking the pass rink wide Marner toe drags around a kneeling Senator before finding a spot when there were seemingly no spots to find.

Marner continues to add to his spectacular performance this season, with a team-leading 21 assists and 30 points in 19 games. Now that he is not only a passing threat but a shooting threat, it makes him that much more dangerous. If goalies start to cheat and anticipate a pass too early then it’s an easy goal for Mitch and vice versa.

At a $10.9 million AAV, Marner is making no off-game money, and he is playing with no off games.

Honorable Mention: Toronto Maple Leafs Blow a 5-1 Lead to Senators

It wouldn’t be a real Toronto Maple Leafs season without an embarrassing collapse at some point. This time, it came at the feet of the Ottawa Senators and a 5-1  lead.

Yes, the Leafs, “Leafed” again.

Just before the third period, the Senators had struck back to make the score 5-2, which still seemed like a pipedream for the young Senators, but not impossible.  The Senators would go on to score 5 unanswered goals including the game-winning goal in overtime.

Yes, it was embarrassing, but even with a terrible performance like that the Toronto Maple Leafs still remained atop the NHL standings, which us fans can be thankful.

We can also be happy that this collapse negates the chance of any collapse at any later point this season – or at least we can hope…

1. Auston Matthews is a Goal Per Game and on a Mission

Who else could it be? Auston Matthews is playing on a whole other level this season. He sits with 18 goals and 29 points in 18 games.  Fresh off a four-point outing against the Canadiens, Auston Matthews is on a mission to score 50 in 55 (Auston Missed a game already this season).

If Auston scored at that rate of 50 in 55 games (0.909 GPG) that would the highest goal per game rate since Teemu Selanne in the 1992-93 season where he scored 70 goals in 84 games (via records.nhl.com).

Currently, Auston is scoring at a 1.0 GPG which is astronomical to think of in this era. With that number, it sounds like Auston Matthews is playing bantam rather than in the NHL.

Keep in mind this reel, was made 12 days ago. Since then Auston Matthews has played 6 games and scored another 7 goals and 14 points.

Matthews is the front runner for the Rocket Richard Trophy by a landslide of 6 goals. Odds are that he’s an early front runner for the Hart Trophy and perhaps even the Ted Lindsay Trophy if he can keep up this pace.

Keep it up Auston we’re rooting for you.