Roster Changes Pay Off: The Toronto Maple Leafs Are Better in 2022
The Toronto Maple Leafs made some roster moves during the offseason that left some fans in a state of disarray. Did the team get better or worse over the offseason?
With the sting of another first round loss fresh in our hearts, it was difficult to see anything positive about losing fan favourites like Zach Hyman and Freddie Andersen for nothing in free agency. If the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to progress, they needed to keep their stars and add more, right?
Until now, it was too early to know. The new additions needed a chance to show what they’ve got, but now that we’ve reached the halfway mark of the season, we have a better understating of what the new guys can bring to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Here’s a comparison of the key roster additions and subtractions the Toronto Maple Leafs have made this season:
Toronto Maple Leafs 2021-22 Roster vs 2020-21 Roster at Mid-Season
I’m going to be looking at last season’s Toronto Maple Leafs roster before the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline and comparing it with this season’s roster so far assuming that everyone on both rosters are healthy and available.
I’m not including players acquired after the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline, because this season’s trade deadline hasn’t happened yet and post-deadline rosters are a totally different beast mainly because of how the cap can be manipulated.
As a reminder, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Nick Foligno, Riley Nash, Ben Hutton and David Rittich around last season’s trade deadline. They were acquired as rental players for the playoffs and none of them were expected to re-sign in the offseason.
Though none of them really made much of an impact anyway except for Foligno, the Leafs will most likely make more moves at this season’s trade deadline to bolster their roster again for the playoffs.
I’m also not including any analysis on non-roster players or depth players that only filled in for injured players. (stats from sportsnet.ca)
Let’s start with a look at the changes in the Toronto Maple Leafs crease:
Toronto Maple Leafs 2020-21 Goaltenders
Jack Campbell
Freddie Andersen
Toronto Maple Leafs 2021-22 Goaltenders
Jack Campbell
Petr Mrazek
By the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline, Jack Campbell had solidified himself as the Toronto Maple Leafs starter. Campbell captured the crease on merit and because of Andersen’s injury plagued season. The main difference this season is really a swap of Freddie Anderson for Petr Mrazek.
For the Leafs last season, Andersen had a .895 save percentage and a 2.96 goals against average in 24 games. So far this season, Mrazek has a .902 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average in seven games. Andersen and Mrazek both had injury issues during these seasons and Mrazek’s numbers are only slightly better.
Andersen has a .929 save percentage and a 2.01 goals against average with the Carolina Hurricane this season and Petr Mrazek had a .923 save percentage and 2.06 goals against average with the Hurricane last season. Andersen is ahead there, but it’s still close.
The other difference between these two players is salary. Freddie Andersen carries a $4.5 million cap hit and Petr Mrazek has a $3.8 million hit.
Yes, Andersen is having a great season in Carolina, but I think the Leafs did well to go with Campbell as a starter and take a cheaper alternative in Mrazek as a back-up/tandem partner.
Mrazek has been playing well since returning from injury, and I think we’ll get a better sense of what he has to offer as he gets more starts under his belt.
How about the Toronto Maple Leafs defense?
Toronto Maple Leafs 2020-21 Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Bogosian – Dermott
Toronto Maple Leafs 2021-22 Defensemen
Rielly – Brodie
Muzzin – Holl
Sandin – Liljegren/Dermott
This season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have provided a great opportunity for two of their former first round picks to develop as defensemen at the NHL level. Both Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren have taken great strides this season.
The only real loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs defense core has been Zach Bogosian. Bogosian provided the Leafs with some size and experience on the back end last season, but honestly, I sometimes forget that he was even with the team last year.
That’s many because of the play of Sandin. He’s an exciting player to watch, and he’s only going to get better. He has made a few rookie mistakes, but considering he’s only 21 years old, he’s done well enough to stick on the roster of a contender which is an achievement on it’s own.
Offensively, Bogosian had zero goals and four assists in 45 games with the Leafs last season while Sandin has a goal and nine assists in 36 games so far this season.
A big reason why Bogosian was brought in last season was to add size to the Leafs blueline and provide insurance if Jake Muzzin went down with injury. Bogosian didn’t seem to help much when Muzzin went down in the playoffs, but Bogo was coming back from his own injury issues as well.
At first, when Muzzin went down with a concussion this season, it seemed like the lack of size on the Toronto Maple Leafs blueline was starting to show, but the team seemed more solid on defense game after game.
When Muzzin returns, it’s not certain if Travis Dermott or Lilijegren with sit out, but it will most likely be Dermott. It’s not a knock on Dermott. I actually think Dermott has improved this season. It just shows how far both Lilijegren and Sandin have come this season to pass Dermott on the depth chart.
Zach Bogosian has two goals and four assists in 23 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning this season on a $850,000 contract. I liked him with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he hasn’t really been missed.
The loss of Bogosian has been worth the experience gained by Sandin and Lilijegren. There are a lot of rumours about the Toronto Maple Leafs adding a defensemen with size and experience at the trade deadline, and if they do, it will be someone better than Bogosian anyway.
Finally, let’s have a look at the changes made to the Toronto Maple Leafs forward group:
Toronto Maple Leafs 2020-21 Forwards
Hyman – Matthews – Marner
Galchenyuk – Tavares – Nylander
Engvall – Kerfoot – Mikheyev
Thornton – Spezza – Simmonds
Toronto Maple Leafs 2021-22 Forwards
Bunting – Matthews – Marner
Kerfoot – Tavares – Nylander
Mikheyev – Kampf – Kase
Engvall – Spezza – Simmonds
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward group has undergone a few more changes than their goaltending and defense. Zach Hyman, Alex Galchenyuk and Joe Thorton have been replaced by Michael Bunting, David Kampf and Ondrej Kase.
Michael Bunting vs Zach Hyman on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Hyman versus Bunting has been a debated topic for Leafs fans since the two players signed with new teams during the offseason. Hyman was a fan favourite during his six seasons in Toronto and many fans (including myself) were heart-broken when he signed with the Edmonton Oilers.
Last season with the Leafs, Hyman had 15 goals and 33 points in 43 games. This season Bunting has 13 goals and 29 points in 42 games. Hyman has the edge (until you adjust for salary) but they’re pretty comparable. Both players started lower in the line-up and moved up as the season progressed.
A big difference though is that Hyman had spent six seasons with the team, knew his teammates well and grew into that position. Bunting has made an impact on the top line right away despite his classification as a NHL rookie. Bunting is still progressing and will have more chemistry with Matthews and Marner the longer he plays with them.
Honestly, Michael Bunting has grown into one of my favourite Toronto Maple Leafs. I love how he draws penalties and gets under the skin of his opponents. He’s always around the net, he gives his all and the look on his face when he scores shows that he loves being with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There’s also the huge difference in cap hit between the two players as well with Hyman making $5.5 million and Bunting taking $950,000. Hyman has 13 goals and 26 points in 36 games so far this season.
Ondrej Kase vs Alex Galchenyuk on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Galchenyuk versus Kase might not be as obvious a match-up, but their are some similarities. They’re both players the Toronto Maple Leafs took a chance on. Galchenyuk was given more opportunity to play in the top-six though while Kase has been a third line staple except for when Mitch Marner was out with injury.
Last season, Galchenyuk had four goals and 12 points in 26 games with the Leafs (.46 pts/g). Kase has eight goals and 17 points in 34 games this season (.5 pts/g). Kase also kills penalties.
Alex Kerfoot if having a career year after taking Galchenyuk’s spot on the second line and Kase has helped bring the stability, trust and secondary scoring to the third line that the Leafs were lacking last season.
Alex Galchenyuk has two goals and seven points in 25 games with the Arizona Coyotes this season. Galchenyuk carries a $750,000 cap hit. Kase makes $1.25 million.
David Kampf vs Joe Thornton on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Thornton vs Kampf is a tough comparison. Both players bring intangibles. Thornton brought leadership and veteran experience. David Kampf brings stability and defensive skill to the third line and is a major factor in the Leafs decision to move Kerfoot up to the second line wing.
Last season, Thornton had five goals and 20 points in 44 games with the Leafs. Kampf has five goals and 14 points in 42 games this season.
They’re equal in goals in this comparison, and Thornton doesn’t have much of an edge in points especially when you consider the fact that he started last season on the Leafs’ top line and eventually worked his way down to the fourth line.
Thornton has two goals and six points in 24 games with the Florida Panthers this season. Thornton is making $750,000 and Kampf carries a cap hit of $1.5 million. In my opinion, Kampf’s skill set is worth the cost of two Joe Thorntons.
Next. Top 3 Defensemen the Leafs Should Trade For. dark
Though it wasn’t obvious at the time, in retrospect, the Toronto Maple Leafs significantly improved their roster over the offseason in my opinion. I’m excited to see what the team can bring to the second half of the season and what moves are yet to come ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline.