Mid-Season Grades For the Toronto Maple Leafs Defense
By David Agnew
TJ Brodie
Since signing a 4-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020, TJ Brodie has been a stalwart on the team’s blue line. Until late last season, he was a model of stability and reliability. But for whatever reason, Brodie started playing poorly, and was not good at all during the playoffs.
Unfortunately, that poor play has continued this season. It’s possible that Brodie’s decline is age related, but at 33 years old, his gas tank shouldn’t be empty quite yet. Perhaps he’s playing through one or more undisclosed injuries?
In Brodie’s case, the numbers fully support the “eye test”, which is to say he has been terrible. Although Brodie has never contributed much offensively, the last time he scored was December 31, 2022.
Brodie has by far the fewest hits (28) of any regular Toronto Maple Leafs defender. He has by far the worst CF% (44.2%) of any regular defender. He has by far the lowest XGF% (42.82%) of that same group.
Opposing forwards are outskating him, outmuscling him and just outplaying him completely.
At this point, it’s questionable whether Brodie has a future with the Toronto Maple Leafs beyond this season. A trade or a buyout may be on the horizon.
Grade: F