NHL Season Preview 2016-17: Toronto Maple Leafs

How will the Toronto Maple Leafs do in 2016-17?

Pain and suffering are the norm for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans. However, things are starting to change in Toronto. Yes, the team is still generally terrible and they’re coming off a last place finish. But for the first time in a very long time, Leafs fans have a reason to be optimistic thanks to a long-overdue rebuild.

Everything the Maple Leafs have done the past two seasons was done with a purpose. That purpose? To be as bad as possible. They succeeded in their quest, but acquired a lot of good young players. In 2016-17, they should be ready to stop tanking and start winning.

Offseason Review

Here’s a quick review of what the Toronto Maple Leafs have done this offseason.

Additions: C Auston Matthews (2016 NHL Draft), G Frederik Andersen (Ducks), F Kerby Rychel (Blue Jackets), F Matt Martin (Islanders), D Roman Polak (Sharks), G Jhonas Enroth (Kings)

Losses: F P.A.. Parenteau (Islanders), F Raffi Torres, F Brad Boyes, G Alex Stalock (Wild), C Ben Smith (Avalanche), F Michael Grabner (Islanders), D T.J. Brennan (Flyers), D Scott Harrington (Blue Jackets), G Jonathan Bernier (Ducks)

Retained: C Nazem Kadri, D Morgan Reilly, G Garret Sparks, F Josh Leivo, D Connor Carrick, C Peter Holland, D Frank Corrado, D Martin Marnicin

The pain of the past two seasons became justified when the Maple Leafs won the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery and the right to draft Auston Matthews. Matthews is perhaps the most important Leafs draft pick of the past 25 years. Toronto overhauled their goaltending, going from Jonathan Bernier and a revolving door of goaltenders to Frederick Andersen and Jhonas Enroth. Garret Sparks will provide goaltending depth in the AHL.

Toronto got yet another forward with high upside, trading Scott Harrington and a fifth round pick to the Blue Jackets for Kerby Rychel. Rychel could benefit from a change in scenery and the Leafs got him for a very cheap price. Matt Martin is a questionable addition, especially for a team that embraces analytics. Roman Polak is back after the Leafs traded him to the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline. He could be traded at the deadline once again during the 2016-17 season.

The Leafs got a bit lucky with Nazem Kadri. He’s a rare player who didn’t have an ideal contract year. His shooting percentage was terrible, but he generates shot attempts at a pretty impressive rate. Expect his contract to be a very good bargain. Locking up Morgan Reilly was key because he’s the Maple Leafs’ best defenseman. Toronto has impressive depth and they won’t be able to keep everyone. So don’t be surprised to see some trades as they whittle down their roster.

Player Spotlight: Auston Matthews

Auston Matthews will have the weight of all of the Toronto Maple Leafs failures since their last Stanley Cup on his shoulders. The list of Maple Leafs’ draft pick busts is quite long. But Matthews is the type of player who could make all the pain worth it.

Matthews is a rare teenager who has proven himself against adults. After an impressive junior career, Matthews went overseas to play in Switzerland for his draft year. It turns out that Matthews’ decision to do so was a wise one, as Matthews dominated against grown men. In 36 regular season games, Matthews scored 24 goals and had 22 assists for 46 points. He nearly led the league in scoring despite missing 14 games.

The Leafs’ future relies on Matthews, a boy from Scottsdale, Arizona. Matthews represents the success of southern hockey markets. Now he will be representing one of the NHL’s most prestigious franchises. He will enter the 2016-17 season as the Calder Trophy favorite, and rightfully so.

2016-17 Outlook

Toronto’s success in 2016-17 will not be judged by how many games they win. The most important thing for the Maple Leafs is that their young players continue to develop and impress. As their young players develop, the Leafs will continue to shift veterans out of the starting lineup. Expect the Leafs to be quite active at the trade deadline as they try to trade veterans and insert younger players.

William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Carrick, Morgan Reilly, Nikita Soshnikov, Matthews, and Frank Corrado are among the players 23 years old or younger who will likely see significant playing time this season. Nylander might well be Matthews’ biggest threat to the Calder Trophy. The Leafs will be a very young team this season, so don’t expect the playoffs. However, they will also be a very talented team, so don’t rule out a playoff run.

Toronto is not quite ready to contend for a playoff spot. Their prospects still have to develop. But they are heading in the right direction. They certainly won’t be the worst team in the NHL again. Mike Babcock is an elite head coach who has the Maple Leafs playing solid hockey. For the first time in a while, the future is bright in Toronto.