Maple Leafs Gazette

Category: Gazette Player of the Week

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.