Maple Leafs Gazette

Author: leafsfansawyer

  • Gazette Player of the Week: October 29

    With the Leafs (hopefully) back to their winning ways, it’s time for another Gazette Player of the Week. This week’s choice is hard: many players had a good game or two, but throughout the three game losing streak there not one player played particularly well (possibly excluding goalie Anthony Stolarz). However, I feel good about giving the Gazette Player of the Week to William Nylander this time around.

    Nylander was a monster in last week’s game against Tampa Bay, scoring twice and assisting another in a statement win. Like the rest of the team, he was largely invisible against Columbus, though he did avoid going minus in the +/- chart, a modest achievement in a blowout loss. He failed to record a point the next two games, as well, in a letdown against the Blues and a hard-fought loss to the Bruins, before getting back on the scoresheet against the Jets with a goal and two assists, including an absolutely stunning no look pass to Morgan Rielly for the Leafs fourth goal of the night.

    All in all, since last Monday, Nylander compiled 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points in 5 games. With the entire team generally struggling, he’s the logical choice to me, but the team needs better individual performances than this to move ahead in the standings.

  • Opinion: Leafs season threatens to go south early

    This year was supposed to be different.

    It still might be. There have only been 8 games played, roughly a tenth of the regular season. The Leafs sit at 4-4. Not great, but a reasonable platform to build on. There have been good signs: New signings at defense and goalie have fit in well, and the team has several statement wins already. Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Anthony Stolarz looked like the perfect complement of signings to help the Leafs, especially come playoffs.

    But, yikes. Less than a week ago, everything was pointed in the right direction. The Leafs smoked Tampa Bay 5-2, scoring at will and suffocating the Lightning all over the ice. They played physically, standing up for themselves and teammates. It was a breath of fresh air, and coming off a tight loss to the Rangers (yours truly was in attendance!), the Leafs looked fine. Good, even.

    Then, one day after playing the Lightning, the Leafs flew to Columbus and posted a truly miserable effort. It was 6-2 and it felt like it could have been worse. Rookie goaltender Dennis Hildeby was shelled, and demoted to the AHL soon after. Nothing was going right.

    Well, it’s a back to back game. They had to travel. They were tired.

    All true. But every NHL team has to play multiple back to back games throughout the season. The good ones don’t get destroyed when it happens, especially not against Columbus. It’s a continuation of the Leafs disturbing habit of playing down to their competition, and losing.

    Still, bad games happen. The team has to take the rest day to regroup, and make sure it doesn’t happen again. That the next game was at home, against new coach Craig Berube’s former team, seemed to ensure that the poor effort would not be repeated. The St. Louis Blues have started fairly strongly, but they’re generally seen as a fringe playoff team this year. Better than Columbus, but far from, say, Dallas or the Rangers.

    All that to say: The Leafs should have won last night, for a multitude of reasons. There was pride on the line, for their new coach and for the players. They had a rest day. They were playing at home, against a team that on paper is worse then them.

    And, in some ways, it was a carbon copy of the Columbus game. The Leafs were outhustled, frustrated offensively, and made multiple boneheaded defensive plays. Some of the lapses were so bad that Berube took turns benching some of his top players, such as William Nylander and Mitch Marner. Joseph Woll looked rusty in his comeback game, but the defense did him no favours. It was an awful game, and piles pressure on team ahead of a huge game in Boston Saturday. The Bruins are also struggling, and once again there is pride on the line. Boston are hated Original Six rivals, and eliminated the Leafs in the playoffs last year. Not for the first time in recent history, either.

    If the effort after the Blues game is the same as it was after Columbus, the alarm bells will get louder.

    For past stories, including season previews, player profiles, and opponent previews, click here.

    For the NHL.com box score of last night’s game against St. Louis, click here.

  • Gazette Player of the Week: October 12

    Due to Thanksgiving weekend, I was unable to complete a Gazette Player of the Week on Saturday as planned. But with the first week of the regular season in the books, it’s worth taking a look back at the week that was and picking a standout performer.

    To refresh your memory: The Leafs lost 1-0 to Montreal on Wednesday, then bounced back with a 4-2 win in New Jersey before beating Pittsburgh 4-2 in the Leafs home opener on Saturday. Early returns on the season indicate that the offense and power play may take a small step back, but team defense and structure both seemed vastly improved over the Sheldon Keefe teams of yore.

    There were a few individual performances from the first week that stood out, but with several star players getting off to a slow start by their standards (Auston Matthews has no points), the Leafs first-week MVP is…

    Anthony Stolarz, Goaltender

    Stolarz was a big reason the Leafs only allowed 5 goals in their first 3 games. He debuted on Wednesday after presumptive starter Joseph Woll went down with an injury, and Stolarz was impressive, making 26 of a possible 27 saves. Stolarz was back at it Saturday, earning the win and making 21 saves on 23 shots. The standout performances leave him with a 1-1 record, a sparkling .940 save percentage, and a 1.54 goals against average. Going forward, he looks like a lock to start until Woll can go, with the capable Dennis Hildeby backing him up.

  • Season Preview Part 3: Goaltending

    With just a few days until the Leafs kick off their 2024-25 season against the Montreal Canadiens, Leafs fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the team’s final roster. Over the past few days, I’ve written up my best guesses about how the offense and defense will look.

    The final Season Preview article covers the Maple Leafs goaltending. I’ll do a brief write up about each goaltender that has been involved in Maple Leafs training camp, as well as trying to project how many games each will appear in.

    Joseph Woll

    Woll is widely regarded as the Maple Leafs starter for 2024-25. One one hand, this represents a huge risk, as he is still relatively unproven. He’s only played in 36 regular season games over three seasons due to injury and inexperience. Woll’s numbers in those games are solid if unspectacular, with a .912 save percentage and a 2.76 goals against average. However, Woll passes the eye test with flying colours, playing a controlled style and possessing strong mental fortitude, signifying that there may be more potential to unlock.

    Woll was also spectacular in the playoffs after taking over from then-starter Ilya Samsonov. Woll posted a .964, 0.86 stat line in three appearances for Toronto. A similar clutch playoff performance this year would basically lock him into a long-term role as the Maple Leafs starting goaltender.

    Prediction: Woll starts 46 games this year, becoming a reliable starter but not a workhorse.

    Anthony Stolarz

    When Ilya Samsonov left to sign with Vegas, the Leafs turned their attention to Stolarz. The 6’6 New Jersey native will hope to build on his stellar work with the Florida Panthers last year, when he turned in a sparkling .925 save percentage and 2.03 goals against average. Like Woll, Stolarz has never played many games in a season. His heaviest workload was 28 games with the Anaheim Ducks back in 2021-22. However, he is far more experienced than Woll overall, with 108 regular season games under his belt, as well as one playoff appearance last year. Stolarz seems to project as a better-than-average backup with the potential to capably fill in for long stretches if needed.

    Prediction: Stolarz gets 28 games this year, matching his career high and giving Woll plenty of rest.

    Matt Murray

    Both goalies that have already been mentioned are wild cards, and so is Murray. The injury-prone netminder missed the entirety of last year with an injury, and is finally healthy and challenging for game time with Toronto. His only Leafs appearances so far came in 2022-23, when he authored a .903/3.01 stat line in only 26 games, but in theory this year’s defense is far better than the one the Leafs used that season. Furthermore, Murray is a known playoff performer, having won back to back Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh at the beginning of his career. Murray is, at the very least, an intriguing third goalie with upside.

    Prediction: Murray plays 8 games filling in for various injuries, and is in good form before the playoffs should the Leafs need him.

    Dennis Hildeby

    The “Hildebeast” returns for a second season in North America after exceeding all expectations with the Marlies last season. At one point last season, there was even rumblings he’d play for the Leafs, and he served as backup on occasion with Samsonov struggling and Woll injured. He’s young enough that another season starting in the AHL will do him good, and barring catastrophic performance or injury from other Toronto goalies, shouldn’t need to be pressed into action this year, either.

    Prediction: Hildeby gets the lion’s share of the net for the Marlies, and pushes for a spot on the Leafs next season.

  • Gazette Player of the Week

    The Gazette Player of the Week is a Maple Leafs player whose performance warrants appreciation. Players will rotate every weekend. A running count will be kept of the players with the most Gazette awards at the end of the season.

    The first Gazette Player of the Week is a bit of a test run, as it’s only preseason. However, the games aren’t meaningless, as many players give their all trying to make the NHL roster. Thousands of fans come out, cheering on their team, hoping to go home after enjoying a win. With that in mind, the first Gazette Player of the Week is Nick Robertson.

    Huge disclaimer: the play in which William Nylander was injured was one of the silliest, most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen, and it was all Robertson’s fault. But as of now, this publication has forgiven him.

    Robertson has been Toronto’s most consistent offensive threat so far this preseason. He’s appeared in 3 of the Maple Leafs 4 games so far, scoring 3 goals, including both Toronto goals in a recent 2-1 victory over Montreal. He’s looked engaged and energized, and seems likely to crack the opening day lineup next Wednesday against those same Canadiens.

  • Season Preview Part 2: Defense

    In the first edition of Maple Leafs Season Preview, we looked at the Maple Leafs offense. In case you missed it, here is the link to that article. For the goaltending preview, click here.

    Now, a preview of the defense is the focus — who will make the team? What will the defensive pairings look like?

    What do you think? Leave a comment below!

    First Pair Preview:

    Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev

    No surprise here. Tanev was by far the biggest signing the Leafs made this past summer, and immediately gives Rielly his best defense partner…ever?

    In theory, the two have complementary styles. Both are tough as nails, but while Rielly often rushes the puck and handles power play duties, Tanev is a defensive beast, blocking shots and taking away passing lanes. While Rielly has never belonged in the upper echelon of #1 defensemen, this is a very good first defense pairing on a very good team. No notes.

    Crazy prediction: With Tanev helping to keep pucks out of the net and Rielly quarterbacking a potent power play, Rielly sets a personal +/- record this season (his previous best is +24).

    Second Pair Preview:

    Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe

    If the Leafs want to, they can balance all three defensive pairings by mixing one offensively gifted, defensively suspect player with a more traditional shutdown defender. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is inconsistent and possibly past his prime (in a worst-case scenario, this could be another John Klingberg Situation), but at his best he can run a power play and pile up points. Jake McCabe continues to be incredible value (Chicago is still paying 50% of his salary, leaving the Leafs with a mere 2 million dollar cap hit), and he is more than capable of being a good top 4 defenseman.

    Crazy prediction: Ekman-Larsson, though poor defensively, turns back the clock to his Arizona days and piles up 40+ points.

    Third Pair Preview:

    Simon Benoit, Timothy Liljegren

    The Leafs defensive depth drops off here, and if someone like Ekman-Larsson struggles, depth will become an issue. Simon Benoit had a surprisingly good season last year, endearing himself to Leafs fans and earning a contract extension. He hits well and generally makes smart plays with the puck, but lacks the foot speed to add any offense. Timothy Liljegren continues to be an enigma. He’s talented and shows signs of putting it all together, with the potential to become a nice dependable offensive defensemen, but has consistent runs of poor form that makes it hard for the Leafs to play him anywhere but the third pair.

    If the Leafs deal with injuries or poor defensive play, some likely candidates to see time include Marshall Rifai (who seems well liked by coaches and has had a solid preseason), Connor Timmins (can get points but that’s about it), and Topi Niemelä (who seems destined for the Leafs in the future but may not be quite ready).

    Crazy prediction: Liljegren struggles this season, and is traded at the deadline, with another team wanting to give him a fresh start.

  • Season Preview Part 1: Offense

    Hockey is back.

    The NHL preseason is in full swing, with Toronto’s regular season kicking off on Saturday, October 5. While there’s plenty of roster decisions to be made in the coming days, the Leafs lineup is taking shape. Practice lineups and preseason rosters hint at what the team will look like, but there’s sure to be a few surprises. In this series of previews, I’ll focus on offense, defense, and goaltending, predicting lines and active roster spots as I go.

    First up: a preview of the offense.

    Disagree with anything you read? Start a conversation in the comments!

    First Line Preview:

    Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner

    The first line is not too difficult to predict. New captain Auston Matthews and his running mate Mitch Marner have as much chemistry as any pair on the team, and have the talent to blow the roof off entire games. Matthew Knies showed enough in his rookie year to claim a top-line spot to start the season. His numbers may not jump off the page, but if he’s playing well, Matthews and Marner will have the puck more often than not. However, if the Leafs hit a rough patch, look for coach Craig Berube to try other options on the left wing.

    Crazy prediction: Knies hits a minor sophomore slump and Max Pacioretty gets games on the first line beside Matthews and Marner.

    Second Line Preview:

    Bobby McMann, William Nylander, Calle Järnkrok

    The success of the William-Nylander-at-centre experiment may be pivotal to the Leafs season. With John Tavares no longer a viable second line centre, Nylander must take up the mantle. He has all the talent in the world, and should be given plenty of time to figure out the position. Calle Järnkrok seems like a safe bet on the right, a Swiss army knife of a player with an underrated shot. Bobby McMann was phenomenal last year, and could play a Knies-like, power forward role. If the line struggles to score, Max Domi could play the left, adding more offensive flair while dropping McMann down a line or two.

    Crazy prediction: Tavares turns back the clock and bounces back in a big way. He comes up to centre the second line on occasion, allowing Nylander to play on the right again and giving the Leafs a fearsome 1-2 punch.

    Third Line Preview:

    Max Domi, John Tavares, Pontus Holmberg

    Former captain John Tavares drops to the third line on a full time basis, and in theory should be able to stack up points against favorable matchups. Limiting his minutes could also keep him fresh for the playoffs. Max Domi is a sparkplug who will likely play up and down the lineup, and Berube could try Domi at centre and bump Tavares to a wing. Pontus Holmberg is a crafty winger who rarely makes a mistake, and occasionally flashes skill and physicality. He’s the kind of player who could really benefit from settling into a top 9 role, as former coach Sheldon Keefe frequently shuffled his lines.

    Crazy prediction: Holmberg erupts for 20 goals, giving fans flashbacks to the randomness of Nikolai Kulemin’s 30 goal season back in 2010-11.

    Fourth Line Preview:

    Max Pacioretty, David Kampf, Easton Cowan

    Easton Cowan failed to make a difference in his first couple preseason games, but looked energized against Montreal. He creates chaos on the ice, which could help the opportunistic Pacioretty to thrive. Nick Robertson is also a candidate for that left wing spot, but Pacioretty has had a terrific camp so far and is a much more well-rounded player than Robertson. David Kampf is dull offensively, but extremely defensively sound, hopefully allowing the young wingers to go adventuring. If Cowan and Pacioretty fail to produce offense, Ryan Reaves and Steven Lorentz could swap in to provide a more traditional, grinding fourth line.

    Crazy prediction: Pacioretty delivers a vintage season, with 60 points playing up and down the lineup, before fizzling out a month before the playoffs.

    Notable Omissions:

    Ryan Reaves, Steven Lorentz, Nikita Grebenkin, Nick Robertson

    Ryan Reaves wasn’t an everyday player last year, and there’s no real reason why he should be one this year. The fourth line instantly becomes offensively challenged with Reaves and David Kampf sharing the ice, and Easton Cowan means far more to the team’s future than Reaves. Leaving Reaves and Steven Lorentz out of the bottom six leaves the Leafs physically vulnerable, with mostly small, fast, skilled players on the ice. This is a a similar roster construction to some of the Kyle Dubas years. However, the defense this year has far more snarl than in past years and could offset that lack of physicality. If not, Reaves can easily slot in.

    Nikita Grebenkin is showing the potential to become a real fan favourite in the preseason, and could get games this year, but will likely start the season with the Toronto Marlies.

    Nick Robertson is perhaps the biggest mystery on the team: He’s an elite shooter with strong offensive stats, but is inconsistent and publicly requested a trade out of Toronto in the offseason. If McMann, Holmberg, Pacioretty, or Cowan flame out, Robertson seems like a logical next man up, but I’m not convinced he makes the team out of camp.

    For the next edition of the season preview, focusing on the defense, click here.

    For the third and final season preview article, focused on goaltending, click here.