Toronto Maple Leafs: Elite Players Leading Team in Points

The Toronto Maple Leafs have played 13 games in the 2022-23 season, and after some early-season criticism from coach Sheldon Keefe, their elite players are leading the way.

The Toronto Maple Leafs best players:  Auston Matthews ($11.6 million), John Tavares ($11 million), Mitch Marner ($10.9 million), and William Nylander ($6.9 million) are leading them in points.

Though Matthews and Marner got off to a relativerly slow start (for them) they’ve played well and the puck has starting to go it over the past few games.
(Salary cap info from capfriendly.com)

Other players on the team look to the team’s stars to lead by example, even more so to team captain John Tavares. It is his job to lead by example on and off the ice. Everyone knows how well these players can play, but watching them continue to improve their game is inspiring.

With a 7-4-2 record through 13 games, the Toronto Maple Leafs are third in the NHL’s Atlantic Division with 16 points. Things were looking grim a week ago, but the team has won three games in a row and have points in five or their last seven games.

The Leafs got off to a slow start last season but ended up going 12-2-0 in November 2021. They are 3-0-0 this November and will look to keep it going on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Toronto Maple Leafs Elite Players Leading the Way

The Leafs best players have combined for 55 points in 13 games. Team captain John Tavares is leading the way. (All stats from hockey-reference.com)

John Tavares

Tavares has registered eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 13 games. He is one goal away from reaching 400 career goals. The Toronto captain is playing at the same pace that saw him record 88 points in 82 games during his first season with the team.

Mitch Marner

Marner has recorded two goals and 12 assists for 14 points in 13 games this season. Last season saw him record 97 points in 72 games. Marner will be looking to finally reach 100 points after scoring over 90 points twice (94 points in 2018-19 & 97 points in 2021-22). He is also 31 points away from reaching career point number 500.

Auston Matthews

Matthews set a personal best last season with 60 goals and 46 assists for 106 points. Doing it two years in a row will not be easy, but I think the back-to-back Rocket Richard Trophy winner is up to the task. He has six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 13 games. Matthews is 30 points away from reaching 500 career points and 35 goals shy of goal number 300.

William Nylander

Nylander has five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 13 games. He had his best season last year, recording 34 goals and 46 assists for 80 points in 81 games. It’ll be nice to see if he can improve on those numbers this season.

The Leafs, like most teams, will go only as far as their stars take them.  With all four currently providing at least a point-per-game, the season is off to an auspicious start.