Toronto Maple Leafs: Amid Lack-Of-Depth Talk, Kerfoot Takes Star Turn

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a very good trade when they traded Nazem Kadri, all things considered.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had Nazem Kadri signed long-term to a $4.5 million dollar contract, and he could have gone down as one of the most popular players in team history, but for his immaturity.

After the Leafs lost consecutive playoff series due to Kadri getting suspended in both series, he   and he had to be moved.  There is just no way they were bringing him back after that second suspension.

The trade got them some cap space, a year of Tyson Barrie (so bad under Babcock hardly anyone noticed how good he was under Keefe) and the younger, cheaper, less suspendable Alex Kerfoot.

Kadri is a much better player than Kerfoot, but the trade has worked out well for both teams.  Kerfoot, however, doesn’t get the credit he’s due.  Especially after a great playoffs last year, and a strong start to this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Is Alex Kerfoot Coming Into His Own?

Alex Kerfoot currently leads the Leafs with 2.85 points per 60 minutes of 5v5 ice-time.  Now this owes to Kerfoot’s high on-ice shooting percentage, and Marner/Matthew’s cold shooting, but it’s still first line production. (stats naturalstattrick.com).

Kerfoot has always scored more than people think.  As a Leaf he has scored 1.87 P/60 which is only slightly below the 2 P/60 that qualifies as first-line scoring.  In his three years on the Avalanche, Kadri is at 2.11 P/60 which is only slightly better, plus,  Kerfoot plays significantly better defense.

Kadri is still better, but largely because its only recently that Kerfoot got any special teams time.  The difference between them isn’t as big as people think, and if the Kerfoot who has played since May is the real Kerfoot there might no longer be any difference.

This year Kerfoot has two goals and 11 points, but 10 of them came at even-strength.  Put this alongside a 53% puck-possession rating and a 53% expected-goals rating, and you’ve got a very effective complimentary player.  In fact, taken all together, these are star numbers, not complimentary player numbers.  It’s ironic that all the talk about the Leafs “core four” being the only ones who score drowned out the talk about one of their depth players performing like a star.

But full disclosure: He probably isn’t going to flirt with 3 P/60 long-term. Kerfoot likely is not the star he has been so far this season. Still, his normal production rate  is still very good, especially if he’s killing penalties and playing solid defense.

After a slow star (scoring wise) Kerfoot has points in seven of his last nine games, including four in a row.  For his salary, he’s returning excellent value.

He gives the Toronto Maple Leafs some speed and defense in their top six, and seems much more comfortable playing with Tavares on the wing than he did as a 3C.  People, myself included,  keep mentioning him as trade bait, but that’s done.

No one probably saw it coming, but Alex Kerfoot has established himself as a solid top-six winger and the best left-winger on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

One minute everyone was ready to trade Kerfoot, and the Leafs left him exposed in the expansion-draft, possibly hoping he’d get chosen over Jared McCaan. Now, it’s a month into the season and McCaan looks like cheap bait used to get an extra protection spot for Kerfoot.

Kerfoot is hot and will cool off, but it’s still worth acknowledging that he’s performed as a star player this season and that he is currently outscoring Connor McDavid at 5v5 on a per minute basis.  Kerfoot’s 10 5v5 points are the sixth most in the NHL right now.  Might want to give him some power-play time too.