2022-2023 Toronto Maple Leafs Defensemen Grades

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t had very much playoff success in the Auston Matthews Era, but there really isn’t anything more they could have done – they have entered the playoffs with a top team for at least each of the last four years.

Each variation of the regular season Toronto Maple Leafs over the past seven years can be compared to Groundhog Day. Records are broken, power-play percentage skyrockets, hope blooms come spring; and then the same result: the Leafs vanish, like a shadow in the dark, from the post-season faster than the speed of light.

And, the one common variable is team defense. In the 82 games that the 2022-23 Leafs played, they were in the top-10 for: lowest amount of shots against, highest save percentage and goals against.

Come playoff time, the ice shrinks and it is harder to buy real estate than in the Upper West Side. The game moves faster. Time and space are harder to come by; and so are goals. That’s when the Leafs D is exposed for what it is: not championship caliber. A look at the meaningful defensive statistics from October to April shows that the Leafs need to upgrade their back-end big time to be able to play in June.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were 23rd out of 32 teams when it came to hits and 16th when it came to blocked shots. It is therefore not surprising that they have trouble clearing the front of the net and too often turn the puck over in dangerous areas. Their defenseman do not possess the ruggedness and aversion to pressure that is necessary to make a long run at the Stanley Cup.

Short, quick, smart passes to the talented forwards. It seems simple, but too often, the Leafs cannot clear the puck passed their own blue line and it turns into elimination.

Here is the last installment of the Toronto Maple Leafs 2022-23 player grades. We will cover the four returning defenseman and will go in descending order according to age.

The previous entries to this series can be seen here: Player Grades Part 1; Part 2; and Part 3.

#2. T.J. Brodie

Stats with the Leafs:

Regular Season:

Games Played: 58

Goals: 2

Assists: 12

Playoffs:

Games Played: 11

Goals: 0

Assists: 3

Contract Status:

Signed through 2023-24 at $5M AAV.

Overall Thoughts:

It’s tough to point a finger at one player and blame them for the shortcomings of an entire team, yet it might not be out of the question when it comes to Brodie. He is paid handsomely to be a top pairing, minutes eating defenseman on one of the best offensive teams in the NHL.

Brodie is not counted on to score goals. He’s supposed to stay-at-home and be an anchor, but he has become a turnover machine. In addition, he was second last amongst his peers in hits (47) with only Jake McCabe (41) trailing. But in actuality, Brodie played 37 more games in the blue and white than his playoff defense partner. Brodie did go on the injured reserve twice with separate injuries, but it’s painfully obvious that he avoids physicality more than a Thailand monk.

Oh, and by-the-way, the Brodie/McCabe pairing versus the Panthers was atrocious. Brodie was consistently stripped of the puck while being only a few feet away from the front of the Leafs net. He was bested by Sam Reinhart in game three on the wraparound overtime winner to give the Panthers a stranglehold 3-0 series lead. Then, he took a delay of game penalty in OT of game five.

This offseason, Brodie has been the subject of many trade and buyout rumors. He has one-year left on the deal that former general manager Kyle Dubas gave him when Brodie left the Calgary Flames four years ago.

Perhaps current Leafs GM Brad Treliving, who let Brodie walk away from the Flames for nothing, can become a defense whisperer. Until that happens, Brodie gets a borderline failing grade.

#3. Morgan Rielly

Stats with the Leafs:

Regular Season:

Games Played: 65

Goals: 4

Assists: 37

Playoffs:

Games Played: 11

Goals: 4

Assists: 8

Contract Status:

Signed through 2028-29 at $7.5M AAV.

Overall Thoughts:

Rielly is the alpha dog on the Leafs defense and he’s paid like a top-tier player at his position. Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, who recently signed a two-year extension, gives Rielly the most minutes, deploys him on the power-play and even trotted him out on the penalty kill a few times.

There is no doubt that Rielly is a skilled hockey player. Nonetheless, he does not fit the description of a prototypical ace shut-down defender. He doesn’t thump the opposition and strike fear into anyone who wants to create havoc for the Leafs goaltenders.

2022-23 could really be broken down into three separate semesters for Rielly. The first portion was pre-injury, which he sustained late in November. That version of Rielly was not spectacular. He seemed to not look comfortable in his own uniform. His offensive production was down and he struggled defensively. Rielly deserves a solid C+ for that span.

In his absence, due to the knee injury he suffered from a collision with New York Islander Kyle Palmieri, the Leafs went 12-2-1.

Upon his return, Rielly initially performed sub-par, which is understandable after missing game action. His 5v5 stats were abysmal for a handful of games, but he slowly shook the rust and illustrated more of the puck carrying, play driving role that the Leafs need out of him. This third of his report card nets a B+.

Then playoff Rielly was activated. He had four assists in game two against the Lightning, scored the OT winner in game three, tied it late in game four (the Toronto Maple Leafs would go on to win the game on an Alexander Kerfoot goal in the first OT), and got the tying goal against the Panthers in game five of the second round. Wait, the puck never crossed the line?!? Rielly was sensational in the playoffs and earned an A+.

Overall, Rielly, who was ranked as the 10th best defenseman going into the 2022-23 season, averages out at a B+.

#4. Timothy Liljegren

Stats with the Leafs:

Regular Season:

Games Played: 67

Goals: 6

Assists: 12

Playoffs:

Games Played: 5

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Contract Status:

Signed through 2023-24 at $1.4M AAV.

Overall Thoughts:

Liljegren was the only Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman to rank in both the top-five for hits and blocked shots on the team in 2022-23. He also did it with the least amount of ice time out of any of the regular Leaf defenders (Conor Timmins and Erik Gustafsson, now with the New York Rangers, are discluded from this conversation).

So, the potential is definitely there for Liljegren to be more than what Keefe sees in the young Swede thus far in his career. Liljegren consistently puts up high possession and Corsi numbers. He has one year left on his current deal, which is a bargain for the team, before he becomes a restricted free agent.

When the games had more significance, Keefe chose not to dress arguably his best all-around defenseman in Liljegren. It is for sure more frustrating for Liljegren than it is for Leafs fans to witness the head coach not utilizing an asset that could help the team in its’ most deficient area. But it is truly maddening.

In the five games that Liljegren got the green light in the playoffs, he only averaged 15 minutes off the bench. He shoots from the coveted right side and when he does let one fly, it’s heavy.

Liljegren doesn’t shy away from contact and is an effective penalty killer. He’s got some grit in him and the only thing holding him back from a higher grade is visibility. Put this guy on the number one pairing with Rielly, Keefe. If you do, he will be an ‘A’ student.