What is the best Toronto Maple Leafs Roster you could make using players you’ve watched?
I started getting into the NHL back in 2009. Not knowing much about the league, as a Torontonian and knowing the rich hockey history, I felt compelled to root for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As each season passes with good and bad outcomes, we witness players’ returns, departures, and new arrivals.
Through their ups and downs, LeafsNation has stood behind this team and as a fellow member, I wanted to throw out what I think is the ultimate lineup of players from the 2009/2010 season to the modern-day era, which covers my time being a fan.
Toronto Maple Leafs Best Team From 2009 to Present
The Forwards
Line 1:
This is a very nostalgic line for me, a group of players that made me discover my passion for the Leafs.
Bozak is my favorite Leafs player, and I remember during the rebuild years when these three would go out and dominate alongside Kadri on the PP. With Phil’s wicked wrist shot and JVR’s net-front presence, this is a great first line for this squad.
Line 2:
Hyman – Matthews – Marner
Marner and Matthews will go down as probably the two greatest players to ever where the blue and white so it was a no-brainer to slot them in here. When thinking of an LW, I looked back through the years and who their sidekick was. Zach Hyman is the best option for the job as he was arguably the best LW these two superstars had. He’s aggressive on the forecheck, defensively responsible and provides that extra boost.
Line 3:
Kadri – Tavares (A) – Nylander
The perfect line; a goal scorer and net-front player in JT, a talented playmaker in Willy and to bring it all together is a guy with bite and scoring touch in Kadri.
Line 4:
Martin – Spezza (A) – Komarov
A weird combo, but I couldn’t leave out Spezza who I believe was the best fourth line center in this era. Add a goon in Martin and a good two-way grinder in Uncle Leo and you got yourself line four.
Extra line:
Clifford – Orr – Simmonds
Purely here to start another line brawl like in the 2013 preseason vs the Sabres.
The Defense
Pair 1:
Rielly (C) – Hainsey
Mo’s best partner of this era had to have been Ronald Hainsey. He provided Captain Morgan with the ability to play up without worry of being caught pinching. Not to add but Rielly had some of his best seasons playing alongside Hainsey with his career-high 72 point year.
Pair 2:
Phaneuf – Muzzin
A defensive hard-hitting second pair that’ll make any forward look twice before going into a corner.
Pair 3:
Kaberle – Polak
The Czech connection here is very strong. These two players have two different playing styles that I believe would complement each other. Kaberle is the offensive point getter and Polak is the goon that isn’t letting anyone near the net.
The Goalies
Starter:
Andersen
Freddy had an amazing run in Toronto that was cut too soon. He quietly rose the ranks of the winningest goalies in franchise history. While his playoff performances didn’t match his regular season stats, he is no doubt this squad’s backbone.
Backup:
Reimer
A beloved goalie by all LeafsNation, James played his heart out for the city and he deserves this spot on the team.
Extra Goalie:
McElhinney
A very underrated backup goalie within the system when he played in Toronto. McElhinney was the goalie who pushed us into the playoffs in the 2016-17 year robbing Crosby and the Penguins. He went on to win a championship in Tampa and now he resides as this team’s third stringer.
That’s my favorite roster that can be made with the players I’ve grown up watching. I would be interested to hear yours.