The Toronto Maple Leafs have a ton of talent on their team.
Talent that is constantly winning or chasing NHL awards. Which NHL awards will Toronto Maple Leafs players go after during the 2022-23 season?
Leafs forward Auston Matthews won three awards last season. Michael Bunting finished 3rd in Calder Trophy voting, and Mitch Marner finished 4th in Lady Byng Trophy voting. So how will Toronto players do in 2022-23?
Matthews and Marner alone could go after four or five awards this season.
Auston Matthews continues to reach new heights every season. It would not be surprising for him to win a few more trophies or be the runner-up. His skill level is not matched by many in the NHL today. Unless he suffers an injury, there is no reason why he can not reach 60+ goals this season. For Marner, if he stays healthy, there is no reason why he can not register 90-100 points.
There are at least five trophies that Toronto Maple Leafs players could win this season. The five becomes six if we include the Jack Adams Award for head coach of the year. I don’t think Sheldon Keefe gets enough credit. Should the Maple Leafs finish the season first in the Atlantic Division and record close to 115 points again, Keefe should at least get nominated for the Jack Adams Award.
Toronto Maple Leafs Chasing Awards
Not to take anything away from any of the other players on the team, but it will be Matthews and Marner chasing the awards for Toronto. Here is a closer look at what they will be going after.
Rocket Richard Trophy
Auston Matthews is the current Rocket Richard Trophy winner. He has won the trophy in back-to-back seasons. Will he become the second player in NHL history to win the award three times? Only Alexander Ovechkin (9 times) has won the trophy more than twice. Matthews could become the youngest player to win it three times. He will be 25 this season, and Ovechkin was 27 when he won the trophy for the third time.
Hart Trophy
When a player scores 60 goals in a season, it is hard not to declare them the MVP. Matthews beat out Connor McDavid (123 points) and Igor Shesterkin (top goaltender) for the Hart Trophy in 2022 because he achieved 60 goals in a season. Reaching that goal total again will not be easy, but Matthews is more than capable. I expect him to win or be one of the three finalists for the Hart Trophy again in 2023.
(Stats from hockey-reference.com)
Art Ross Trophy
The Art Ross Trophy goes to the player who finishes the season with the most points. I expect Matthews and Marner to be in the mix for this award. Each of them will reach between 90-120 points which could be near the top of the points standings.
Ted Lindsay Award
The Ted Lindsay Award goes to the most outstanding player, as voted on by the NHL Players’ Association. Matthews won this in 2022 because he reached 60 goals. Scoring 60 or more goals in 2023 could win him the award once again.
Selke Trophy
The Selke Trophy goes to the best defensive forward, as voted on by the PHWA. Matthews and Marner both play well defensively. Marner gets plenty of playing time on the Toronto Maple Leafs penalty kill for his defensive abilities. Matthews has become one of the NHL’s most complete players because he is just as good without the puck as he is with it.
Jack Adams Award
The Jack Adams Award goes to the coach of the year, as voted on by the NHL Broadcasters Association. Sheldon Keefe helped the Toronto Maple Leafs set new franchise records in wins and points last season. If he can accomplish new records again this season, he should get nominated for coach of the year.
There is my list of what individual awards I believe the Toronto Maple Leafs can win after the 2022-23 season. Time will tell if I’m right on any of them.