Alex Kerfoot
Alex Kerfoot had his best NHL regular season last year.
He recorded 13 goals and 38 assists for 51 points in 82 games. Most of those points were scored at 5v5 where he actually outscored John Tavares and William Nylander while finishing fourth on the Toronto Maple Leafs in 5v5 scoring.
Th Leafs rewarded his hard work by playing him on the team’s second line, where he was the most common winger for Tavares and Nylander. Playing on a line with the team captain John Tavares has its advantages. For Kerfoot, the 38 assists, 51 points, and 82 games played were all career highs. He also seemed to have more of an edge last season, with 75 hits and 65 blocked shots.
Kerfoot recorded two points in the seven playoff games against Tampa while having an average of 15:27 ice time. Unfortunately, all anyone remembers is a certain giveway that clouds Kerfoot’s otherwise solid season.
He is very good defensively, and is coming off a season where he scored at a first-line rate (2.44 P/60). Kerfoot is always associated with the trading of a former fan-favorite, so he doesn’t really get the credit he deserves.