Toronto Maple Leafs: X-Files, How Former Players Are Doing

The season is entering the second month as the calendar shifts over to November and some fans may have lost track of former Toronto Maple Leafs around the league.

The 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs had a large turnover seeing more than ten players from that roster move on.

While results so far are mixed, most of these players had priced themselves out of town.  Replacements for Bunting and Holl have left a lot to be desired.

With that said, here is a look at how each are doing to start the season.

Toronto Maple Leafs: X-Files, How Former Players Are Doing

Michael Bunting – Carolina Hurricanes
The Scarborough native made it known he would have liked to stay in Toronto, but the team couldn’t make it work and the Hurricanes fans are reaping the rewards.

Bunting signed a three year that has a cap hit of $4.5 Million per season (credit: capfriendly.com) and he appears to be earning his money.

Through ten games, the two-time 23-goal scorer has collected eight points, three of which are goals.  For comparisons sake, Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi have combined for two goals and seven points.

Ryan O’Reilly – Nashville Predators
From all accounts it appeared that the Toronto Maple Leafs management was in favour of bringing back the Ontario native, however, Ryan O’Reilly did not want the stress of playing in the tough market.

Known as “The Factor” also received a four year deal worth $18 Million, which was likely higher and longer than most teams would have wanted to go for the soon to be 33-year old.

O’Reilly is currently tied in goals on the Predators team with four, including two that came against the Toronto Maple Leafs last week.  The former Conn Smythe trophy winner is also playing more minutes than he had averaged over his last couple of seasons.

Pierre Engvall – New York Islanders
After being in the organization for almost ten years, GM Kyle Dubas traded Pierre Engvall at the deadline last year to the New York Islanders for a third round pick.

After finishing out the season on Long Island, the Swedish native would surprise a lot of people when he signed a seven-year deal with the Islanders for $3 Million per season.

Through the first eight games of the season, Engvall has just six shots on net and has been credited with just one hit.  The lanky winger has yet to score a goal and has four assists while averaging 14:38 per night.

Alex Kerfoot – Arizona Coyotes

If there was a player that competed with Justin Holl for criticism on the Maple Leafs over the last few years it would have to be Alex Kerfoot.  After being the guy the Maple Leafs acquired for Nazem Kadri and signing for a similar contract, he failed to live up to what the team thought they got.

Despite scoring just ten goals last year, the Arizona Coyotes gave Kerfoot $3.5 Million a year for two seasons.

Kerfoot is averaging the most ice-time of his career (15:13), but similar to his time in Toronto he is having trouble putting the puck in the net.  He has yet to score a goal this season and has just three assists through eight games while playing third line minutes.

Sam Lafferty – Vancouver Canucks
It looked like Sam Lafferty was going to be part of the Toronto Maple Leafs plans this season after having a solid preseason where he collected three points in four games.  However, Brad Treliving decided that Ryan Reaves was a better fit for the team.

Just prior to the season start, Lafferty and his $1.15 Million cap hit was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a fifth round pick.

Lafferty is playing a depth role on the Vancouver Canucks, but has still contributed with a pair of points, while dishing out 12 hits.  Both points, one being a goal came in his first two games of the season and he has now gone six games without getting on the scoresheet.

Noel Acciari – Pittsburgh Penguins
Another player that many thought would sign back with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Noel Acciari followed Kyle Dubas to Pittsburgh.

Dubas likely overpaid for the late season acquisition as he gave him a three year deal worth $2 Million per season.  The Penguins have been one of the more disappointing teams since the start of the season after some curious moves by Dubas.

Acciari has dressed in all nine games for the Penguins, but has yet to factor into the scoresheet.  Under coach Mike Sullivan, the Rhode Island native has been playing fourth line center minutes and while providing a physical style averaging two hits a game.

Zach Aston-Reese – Detroit Red Wings
Last training camp, Zach Aston-Reese joined the Maple Leafs on a professional tryout, which he turned into a contract and a full time role on the team.  ZAR would play in a career high 77 games and have a personal best ten goals.

Unfortunately, for the second straight season he had to settle for a PTO, this time in Detroit.  He was able to negotiate it into a two-way deal with the Red Wing, however, after training camp he was placed on waivers, which he cleared and has been playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.

It is the first time that Aston-Reese has played in the AHL since a brief stint in his rookie season back in 2018-19.  Through five games, he has yet to collect a point.