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Toronto Maple Leafs Sports activities NHL Hockey
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The marks are in for the Maple Leafs’ 2022-23 season.
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We’ve made an analysis of the Leafs on the common season and playoffs individually, utilizing a 1-10 system, with 10 being the very best.
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As you’ll count on from the best way that the Leafs flamed out in 5 video games within the second spherical in opposition to the Florida Panthers, there are some important variations in grades between the common season and playoffs.
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Amongst these we didn’t grade was rookie Matthew Knies, because the 20-year-old winger performed in simply 10 video games, playoffs included. We’ll predict right here, with a number of confidence, that Knies shall be a major participant for the Leafs subsequent 12 months.
Centre Pontus Holmberg, who performed in 37 video games however only a handful after January, needs to be line for a full-time job subsequent season. And winger Nick Robertson shall be trying to reclaim a spot after recovering from shoulder surgical procedure.
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For the gamers who have been acquired by the Leafs on the commerce deadline, we evaluated their time with Toronto.
Matt Murray — Grades: RS 6.5, PO N/A
Murray was a threat when the Leafs acquired him from the Ottawa Senators, and we noticed why. When Murray was wholesome — he performed in simply 26 video games — he was not constant. The Leafs are caught, for now, with Murray’s contract (one 12 months with a cap hit of $4.687-million). There’s no motive to carry again Murray, who didn’t play after struggling a concussion in opposition to Detroit on April 2.
Ilya Samsonov — Grades: RS 8.7, PO 6.6
Samsonov not solely acquired his profession on observe after signing a one-year contract with the Leafs when Washington didn’t qualify him, he excelled, ending seventh within the NHL in save proportion (.919), fifth in goals-against common (2.33) and third in shutouts (4). Whereas he was in a position to assist get the Leafs previous Tampa Bay earlier than he was injured in opposition to Florida, his post-season numbers weren’t the identical. A restricted free agent, Samsonov have to be stored.
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Joseph Woll — Grades: RS 8.0, PO 7.8
Woll didn’t play rather a lot for the Leafs. However when he did, he was sharp, serving discover that he’s in line to earn a full-time job with the crew to start 2023-24. He was 6-1 with a .932 save proportion in the course of the common season, and was composed and reliable when he took over for the injured Samsonov within the playoffs. Actually, his goaltending shouldn’t be why the Leafs misplaced to the Panthers.
TJ Brodie — Grades: RS 7.8, PO 6.2
An indirect harm in November (12 video games) and a rib harm in January (10 video games) took bites out of Brodie’s season, however when he did play, he was second amongst Leafs defencemen in ice time and contributed considerably to a penalty kill that was twelfth general. Within the playoffs, his pairing with Jake McCabe fizzled, an sudden issue that compelled coach Sheldon Keefe to interrupt the 2 up.
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Justin Holl — Grades: RS 7.6, PO 5.8
Holl’s underlying numbers at instances have been higher than the attention check, and he led all Leafs in ice time whereas the crew was shorthanded, which wouldn’t have been the case had he not earned the belief of the teaching workers. After taking part in in 80 video games, essentially the most amongst Leafs defencemen, Holl slipped within the playoffs and was benched. An unrestricted free agent, he seemingly is completed with the Leafs.
Mark Giordano — Grades: RS 8.0, PO 5.9
The oldest skater within the NHL in the course of the common season at 39, Giordano was essential for the Leafs when the membership bumped into harm bother, particularly in November/December when Brodie, Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin have been out. As respectable as Giordano’s dedication was, there was no arguing in opposition to the truth that he had bother within the playoffs, when age did turn into an element.
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Timothy Liljegren — Grades: RS 7.7, PO 5.4
After the beginning of his season was till early November due to low season hernia surgical procedure, Liljegren made strides in his defensive sport and developed right into a dependable participant. He couldn’t maintain that, and it didn’t assist when the Leafs acquired three D-men on the deadline. Liljegren was a wholesome scratch to start out the playoffs earlier than making his post-season debut in Recreation 6 in opposition to Tampa.
Jake McCabe — Grades: RS 7.4, PO 5.3
After he was acquired from Chicago on Feb. 27, McCabe didn’t take lengthy to make an impression within the prime 4, taking part in with a number of companions earlier than he and Brodie discovered chemistry. In his first participation within the Stanley Cup playoffs in his profession, nonetheless, McCabe struggled, and was on the ice for 11 targets in opposition to at five-on-five, tied for essentially the most amongst Leafs.
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Morgan Rielly — Grades: RS 7.6, PO 9.3
Whereas Rielly once more led the Leafs in ice time within the common season, he didn’t rating his first objective till his thirty sixth sport and was not nice within the defensive zone. He had a team-worst mark of minus-9, and a few within the fan base thought he ought to have been traded. Within the playoffs? A whole 180. Rielly was the Leafs’ greatest participant, had 12 factors and was on the ice for simply two targets in opposition to at five-on-five with companion Luke Schenn.
Luke Schenn — Grades: RS 7.5, PO 8.3
The Leafs’ first-round decide in 2008, Schenn was thrilled to turn into a Leaf once more when he was acquired from Vancouver and that enthusiasm drove his play. Considered a depth piece when Toronto acquired him, Schenn made it unimaginable to take him out and he was a stud within the playoffs. The person they name the Human Eraser is a free agent, however would look good in a Leafs uniform once more.
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Conor Timmins — Grades: RS 6.3, PO N/A
The longer term for Timmins in Toronto was not clear when the Leafs acquired him from Arizona in November, and he didn’t make his debut till the next month. His offensive instincts grew to become obvious, however the Leafs didn’t belief his defensive aspect and he performed sparingly within the closing few months. He signed a two-year extension in February, and shall be counted on to take an enormous step in 2023-24.
Noel Acciari — Grades: RS 7.3, PO 6.9
There was no turning off the motor for Acciari, acquired from St. Louis on Feb. 17. In a depth position, Acciari acquired his physique on every thing in sight (he nonetheless leads the playoffs in hits). He didn’t rating a lot, however there was by no means a query about Acciari’s effort and dedication. Of the Leafs’ lengthy record of unrestricted free brokers, Acciari could be a great choice to get beneath contract for an additional season or two.
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Zach Aston-Reese — Grades: RS 7.2, PO 5.5
All due respect to Aston-Reese for incomes a contract in coaching camp after being invited on a PTO. You knew what you bought each night time, and Aston-Reese offered some offensive punch, scoring a career-high 10 targets in fourth-line minutes. Within the playoffs, Aston-Reese grew to become relegated to the press field, taking part in in six video games as Keefe went with 11 forwards on some nights.
Michael Bunting — Grades: RS 7.5, PO 5.0
In 82 video games, Bunting scored 23 targets to equal his career-high set a season earlier, however fell 14 factors shy of his career-best of 63. Whereas Bunting led the NHL with 41 penalties drawn throughout five-on-five, he additionally took a league-high 37 minors. A 3-game suspension for hitting Tampa’s Erik Cernak was harsh, and Bunting couldn’t get in a rhythm when he returned, recording simply 9 pictures on objective in seven video games. A UFA, it’s uncertain he’s again.
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Calle Jarnkrok — Grades: RS 7.7, PO 6.0
After signing a four-year contract in free company, Jarnkrok grew to become a valued ahead who might play anyplace. He labored his manner into the highest six at instances and scored a career-high 20 targets 39 factors, benefiting from skating with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Within the playoffs, Jarnkrok wasn’t almost as a lot of an offensive issue, producing simply three factors. He had 10 pictures on objective in 11 video games.
David Kampf — Grades: RS 7.3, PO 6.2
One in all three Leafs to play in each sport together with playoffs (William Nylander and Alex Kerfoot did as nicely), Kampf’s smarts have been mirrored in a Leafs-high 195 defensive-zone begins at five-on-five in the course of the common season. He additionally was the Leafs’ most reliable penalty killer amongst forwards. As soon as the playoffs began, Toronto’s fourth line acquired uncovered at instances. As dependable as Kampf was, he’s a UFA and might be changed.
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Alex Kerfoot — Grades: RS 6.8, PO 5.6
Keefe appreciated to maneuver Kerfoot throughout the ahead strains, although regardless of the place he was, prime six or backside six, Kerfoot couldn’t contribute a heck of rather a lot on offence. He dropped 19 factors from the earlier season (taking part in 82 video games in each) and had two factors in 11 playoff video games. Kerfoot has put in good service in 4 seasons with the Leafs, however as a free agent this summer time, his spot might be stuffed.
Sam Lafferty — Grades: RS 6.8, PO 6.2
Lafferty was a stable depth participant from his first shift with the Leafs after he was acquired from Chicago with McCabe, bringing vitality and a few physicality to the fourth line. He’s beneath contract for an additional season, and the Leafs might use just a few extra forwards within the backside six who play in a equally strong manner.
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Mitch Marner — Grades: RS 9.5, PO 4.0
Marner’s first 100-point season within the NHL is simply across the nook, as he got here one level shy of that milestone to steer the Leafs in scoring. He was well-deserving in being voted as a finalist for the Selke Trophy and needs to be in that dialog for years. After an important begin to the playoffs — 11 factors in 5 video games — Marner went ice-cold, recording three factors in six video games. Way more was wanted from him.
Auston Matthews — Grades: RS 8.8, PO 4.0
The reigning Hart Trophy winner dropped to 40 targets from 60, although his evolution into an entire participant continued and he led NHL forwards in blocked pictures with 92. The sticking level, and it’s an enormous one: Simply twice this season did Matthews go 5 video games with out scoring, and the second span occurred to be the final 5 video games of the playoffs. Like Marner, he let his crew down when it wanted him essentially the most.
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William Nylander — Grades: RS 8.9, PO 4.1
Nylander was the Leafs’ greatest participant on various nights in the course of the common season, and together with scoring 40 targets for the primary time in NHL, set private bests in assists and factors. His consistency was not the identical within the playoffs: Nylander scored within the first two video games, didn’t rating for seven in a row after which scored within the closing two video games. He additionally went 4 video games and not using a level. Not ok.
Ryan O’Reilly — Grades: RS 7.8, PO 6.9
Introduced a nice mixture of veteran savvy and manufacturing after coming from St. Louis through commerce. A damaged finger disrupted his impression, however that didn’t deter him when he returned. 9 factors in 11 playoff video games adopted 11 factors in 13 video games with the Leafs. O’Reilly liked being a Leaf, and you’ll guess a lot of the fan base shall be joyful if the membership can discover a technique to re-sign him. If not, many golf equipment would he joyful to present him a brand new house in free company.
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John Tavares — Grades: RS 8.2, PO 4.0
For simply the second time with the Leafs, Tavares averaged a degree a sport (80 in 80) and scored a career-high 18 power-play targets. He wanted to work for every thing he acquired, although, and generally that wasn’t sufficient. Maybe switching Tavares to the wing extra usually (whereas letting him take faceoffs, as he was seventh within the NHL in successful proportion) is the best way to go. Had one help within the sequence in opposition to Florida.
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