Toronto Maple Leafs: Alex Kerfoot Is Extremely Underrated

Fans are saying that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alex Kerfoot is expendable, but is he actually underrated?

At $3.5M, Kerfoot is the fifth highest paid forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, which is why many people want him traded. Since the team is tight to the salary-cap, the easiest thing to do would be to flip him and use that money to re-sign Rasmus Sandin.

When you initially look at Kerfoot’s stats, nothing jumps out at you. He had 13 goal and 51 points, but was most remembered for his playoff blunders, notably when he high-sticked Victor Hedman in Game 6 of the First Round.

Not only that, but he never seemed to gel on the second-line with John Tavares and William Nylander. Based on his price-tag, many people think that if he doesn’t play second-line minutes, then he should be traded immediately, because that’s a waste of money in the top-six.

First of all, that statement is bogus.

It’s not like Kerfoot is making crazy money. He’s the tied 291st highest paid player in the league, which essentially makes his contract average. For an average contract, he’s providing more than average value, so people need to calm down about his contract, because it’s more than fair.

Toronto Maple Leafs Alex Kerfoot is Actually Underrated

Let’s go back to his stat-line for one second. Although he finished as the sixth highest scoring forward on the team this year, he did it without virtually any power-play time. In 82 games, Kerfoot had 9.5 minutes of total ice-time on the power-play and as a result, finished the season with 0 goals and only one assist on the man-advantage.

Not good, eh? (*Insert Phil Kessel’s voice here*)

Well, how’d he do even-strength, then you ask? Kerfoot finished 28th in even-strength assists, beating out such names as: Auston Matthews, Cale Makar,  John Tavares, Taylor Hall, Sidney Crosby, Victor Hedman and many more. (stats: quanthockey.com)

Although he finished 160th in even-strength goals, you’d be shocked to know that he still tied the following names in that category: Pierre-Luc Dubois, Ilya Mikheyev, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Mika Zibanejad.

Mikheyev is the same age as Kerfoot, had the same amount of even-strength goals and had 19 less points than him, but he just signed for $4.75M. So, when Kerfoot becomes available that means he has to be worth the same amount right?

At 5v5, Kerfoot scored 43 points, which is more than Nylander and Tavaers did, in less minutes. He posted a 51% Expected Goals rating, and provided solid defense.

By missing out on power-play time, Kerfoot’s stats are incredibly deceiving, because if he played regular second-unit minutes, you’d have to expect at least another 5-8 goals and 10-15 points, which could push his stat-line to around 20 goals and 61 points, which would make him look way better.

Not only did Kerfoot contribute at a high-level 5v5, but he was a main component on a Leafs team that finished ninth in the NHL in Team Penalty Kill.

Kerfoot was third, for forwards, on the Leafs in total short-handed ice-time, only behind David Kampf (who people think is a top defensive centre in the NHL now) and Mitch Marner, who’s magical on the P.K.

If Kerfoot was never traded in the Nazem Kadri deal, there would be very little criticism for Kerfoot’s game. However, since he was apart of the package, people are always going to compare his game to Kadri, which is completely unfair.

Although I can understand why many would like to see Kerfoot traded, there aren’t too many players that can contribute 5v5, play short-handed, all while playing centre or wing in the top or bottom-six of the line-up.

Kerfoot is actually underrated and as a result, I would be shocked to see him traded anytime soon.