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Toronto Maple Leafs News and NHL Standings Update

By James Tanner

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs congratulates teammate Ilya Samsonov #35 on victory against the Washington Capitals in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 13, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Capitals 3-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs congratulates teammate Ilya Samsonov #35 on victory against the Washington Capitals in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 13, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Capitals 3-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Blues to kick off the new year.

Though the Toronto Maple Leafs would have liked a better result, the game was highly entertaining and they went to their first shootout of the year and picked up a point.

The Leafs probably should have won that game – the goalie wasn’t great, they allowed too many dangerous chances, and their coach made some extremely weird choices (starting Kampf in OT is dumb, and using Sandin in a shootout when you have Bunting, Marner and Tavares is a bad look too) – but they still won the 5v5 battle, scored four goals, and took only two penalties on the night.

Tonight they will play Seattle.

Now on to the news.

Toronto Maple Leafs Milestones

In the St. Louis game Auston Matthews became the fastest player in Leafs history to score 500 points, and Marner now has 498.  

William Nylander needs only 12 points to reach 400 for his career.  He is currently on pace for 47 goals and 97 points.  He is one of the best players in the NHL, and has one of the best team-friendly contracts in the league.

In personal news, Mitch Marner is getting married. This is probably a good thing, but I am concerned that it’s a really, really slow news day when I have to mention it.  Can we get a trade or something?

Speaking of trades, it’s too bad the Leafs couldn’t work something out with Detroit for Jacob Vrana but it appears that he is not available. At first I was very confused about how such a player would end up on waivers, but it later turned out that he was just returning from treatment for substance abuse, and was being sent down on a conditioning stint.

It would seem that no one claimed him out of respect for what he’s going through.  I am assuming here, I have no idea, but clearly there are teams who would want a player who should be a household name and an NHL superstar.

NHL Standings

Despite a +30 goal differential and a nearly .700 points-percentage on the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in second place in their division and in line for their second straight first round matchup against the team that has now gone to three-straight Stanley Cup Finals.

Good times!

The Leaf are 3rd by goal differential, 3rd in points-percentage, 3rd in wins in regulation,  and fourth overall by points.  They are somehow nine points back of Boston despite almost never losing.

Next. Leafs Should be Trading for Superstars Only. dark

They do lead the NHL with seven overtime losses.

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