Many Reasons to Love This Edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs Despite Their Flaws
Despite their inconsistencies and, at times, infuriating play, the Leafs have had many feel-good stories throughout the year that make them a likable team to cheer for. Examples of resilience and grit can be found everywhere, which hasn't always been the case with this team.
As another NHL season winds down, the Toronto Maple Leafs once again find themselves in a solid position.
A playoff spot has yet to be officially clinched, but the Toronto Maple Leafs will likely extend their run of consecutive postseason appearances to eight.
It is something that fans of the team should not take for granted. The long championship drought remains, but this is a golden era for a flagship franchise of the NHL.
Star players litter the roster and the legitimate contender label remains, despite the absence of a prolonged postseason run.
The Leafs are destined to crack the century mark in points for a fifth time with this current core of players. It might have been seven consecutive 100-point seasons if not for two shortened schedules due to the pandemic.
This year's edition of the Leafs has gone from a preseason Stanley Cup favorite to a periphery contender with a tough postseason slate ahead. The season narratives, however, have been anything but dull and make them a team to appreciate.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Have Resilience and Grit
Resilience and grit. Words that have not often been associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs, until now. One doesn't have to look far to see examples of it with this year's group of players.
The latest instance came from defenseman Mark Giordano. He scored the opening goal in a bounce-back victory for the Leafs in a 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals.
Giordano was only in the lineup because of an injury to Timothy Liljegren. Having recently gone through a concussion injury scare, plus the passing of his father Paul, it was poetic that he scored in his first game in weeks.
Also scoring against the Capitals was Tyler Bertuzzi. He scored twice to give him twelve goals in his last nineteen games. After scoring only six times over his first 51 games, it would have been easy for the snakebitten Bertuzzi to chalk it up to one of those years.
Instead, he continued to go hard to the dirty areas in front of the net. He persisted through tough times and is being rewarded with better results.
Bertuzzi's resurgence is optimal timing for the Leafs, with the playoffs just around the corner.
Afterthoughts McMann and Benoit Lead Leafs Underdog Stories
Bobby McMann and Simon Benoit were afterthoughts at the start of the Leafs season. Neither player was in the lineup on opening night.
McMann started the year with the Toronto Marlies, while Benoit was far down the depth chart as insurance on defense.
Injuries and lack of performance from other players on the roster gave each of them an opportunity. They have not looked back.
McMann is a few weeks removed from potentially losing his spot in the lineup to becoming an indispensable part of the forward lines.
All of this after going undrafted and putting in his time in the minors. He has proven to be reliable among the top nine and has contributed 14 goals in only 48 games, good for fifth most on the team.
Benoit has played in 54 games. He has played physical and blocked shots. When the Leafs defense was besieged by injuries, he capably filled in.
The recent additions of Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson have seen Benoit occasionally bumped from the lineup, but his return to the ice coincided with a strong defensive effort against the Capitals.
His underlying stats are not always impressive, but he manages to be effective. So much so, that the Leafs recently signed him to an extension at a low cap-hit. Security for the player at a reasonable rate for the team.
These two underdog stories are worth following as the postseason approaches.
Samsonov and Woll Have Overcome Adversity
The Leafs goalies have also overcome their fair share of adversity.
Ilya Samsonov struggled so much early in the year, that some wondered if he had played his last game in a Leafs uniform. He was demoted to the Toronto Marlies to regroup.
Since his return, he has outperformed Joseph Woll, who had overtaken him as the Leafs top goalie earlier in the year. Samsonov has spent most of the year among the league leaders in points percentage for goalies.
Woll has dealt with injury issues, an ongoing concern throughout his career. After taking the job as the Leafs number-one goaltender his season was temporarily derailed by a high-ankle sprain.
Once he returned from the injury his play was subpar. Yet, two of his most recent appearances have been encouraging. He was stellar in a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, making 40-plus saves.
Then, after getting called out by head coach Sheldon Keefe in a loss to the New Jersey Devils, he rebounded with a solid performance in the victory over the Capitals.
The Leafs defensive numbers are not impressive, but their goaltenders and defense have both handled adversity with aplomb this season. That will be beneficial once the playoffs begin.
The Leafs Have Successfully Navigated the Absence of Star Players
No one can argue that the Leafs don't miss the likes of Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, or Auston Matthews when they are not in the lineup.
Yet, the Leafs have managed to withstand the prolonged absences of both Rielly and Marner.
Rielly's self-inflicted, but streak-igniting retaliation to Ridly Greig's empty-net goal against the Ottawa Senators, saw him suspended for five games. He has missed two more with a recent injury.
The Leafs have won all but one of those seven games.
The Leafs are historically a .500 team without Marner and that has been held this year. Not impressive, but they have stayed afloat in the standings.
Interestingly enough, the Leafs have managed a better points percentage when Matthews has missed games.
Any extended periods without their most important players would be detrimental to playoff hopes, but the Leafs have shown that short-term absences by their best players may not be catastrophic.
Leafs Stars Assure There is Always Hope
The Leafs shouldn't be criticized for looking after their star players. Keeping your top-notch talent gives you the best chance to win.
This season, they have delivered.
Matthews still has a legitimate shot to reach the magical 70-goal mark. At the very least, he is likely to break his franchise record for most goals in a season.
He is likely to win a third Rocket Richard trophy for leading the league in goals and is an outside contender for the Hart and Selke trophies.
Nylander's play has continued to ascend. Barring injury, he will pass franchise icon Mats Sundin's record for points in a season by a Swedish player.
He has hit the forty-goal plateau once again and will set personal bests in goals, assists, and points. More importantly, his effort has become more consistent. His blatant gaffes are fewer and he has been more engaged defensively.
Before his injury, Marner was on his way to another 90-plus point season and Rielly made this year's all-star game, carrying over his fine play from last postseason.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Flaws Can Be Conquered
A year ago, the Florida Panthers demonstrated what can happen when a team finds its groove at the right time. They rode that momentum to within a whisker of a championship.
Now, they are the pick of many prognosticators to finish the job this year.
The Leafs odds of winning the Stanley Cup have dropped. Nine teams currently have a better chance to win.
Despite all of their flaws, the Toronto Maple Leafs have demonstrated a pluckiness to their game that is admirable. After years of disappointments, they appear to be growing up. The win over the Capitals came after some direct self-criticism for Matthews, Keefe, and Nylander.
Their season-long regulation-time losing streak is only three games. They have found a way to get victories and curtail short-term problems before they become bigger issues.
The Leafs have historically performed better during the postseason with limited expectations. The 1967 champions weren't expected to win. Conference championship runs from the early 1990s and 2000s were underdog teams.
All of those teams embraced the role of the underdog. They had grit, resiliency, and pluckiness.
This version of the Toronto Maple Leafs shows the same characteristics. Plus, they have a star-studded roster.
Stars that are underdogs.
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It might finally be the recipe for success.