Toronto Maple Leafs’ report cards at the 31-game mark of 2018-19
By Simon Vacca
We explore the Toronto Maple Leafs’ progress report cards at the 31-game mark of the 2018-19 season.
At the 31-game mark of the 2018-19 campaign, the Toronto Maple Leafs sit among the highest ranks of the National Hockey League. Behind only the Tampa Bay Lightning in points, the season has been everything that Mike Babcock’s men could have hoped for and more, as the Buds have slowly but surely managed to marry their devastating talent with a degree of consistency.
As the Maple Leafs look to enter into the ranks of legitimate contention for Lord Stanley’s trophy, let’s examine the team’s individual progress report cards.
(Note: Martin Marincin, Justin Holl and William Nylander are not considered in this list, as their sample size remains relatively small.)
The Top Tier
A+. I’ve awarded A+ grades to four Maple Leafs, but only one player would be deserving of an even higher score if grading scales could account for what seems like sheer perfection. Andersen has been everything that Buds fans could have hoped for and more, putting up head-turning totals — including a .928 SV%, a 2.44 GAA, 1 shutout and 768 saves (the third-most amount of pucks stopped in the NHL) — in what has been a Vezina-caliber run at the time of the 31-game mark. Currently surrendering the sixth-highest amount of shots per game (33.6), popular opinion remains that the Maple Leafs will only go so far as goaltending takes them. As such, the onus of responsibility will further lie on Andersen’s shoulders if post-season aspirations — and dreams of a potential run at the Stanley Cup — are to be translated into a reality.. G. TOR. FREDERIK ANDERSEN
A+. We all knew that the 2018-19 season would be an enormous one for Marner, but the sheer volume of the 21-year-old’s offensive output has been one of the year’s great pleasures to observe. Sitting at sixth in the league for points (41) and second in assists (35), the magician continues to light up opponents’ blue lines on a recurring basis. He’ll be due for a massive payday by the end of the campaign — if you listen closely, you can already hear the rumblings of Leafs Nation’s anxieties crescendoing with each passing day — but for now, Buds fans will continue to enjoy the spectacle of delight that is No. 16.. RW. TOR. MITCH MARNER
A+. He may have missed 14 games with yet another injury, but make no mistake: Matthews’ on-ice prowess has shown that nothing will get in the way of proving that 2018-19 is <em>his</em> season. With 16 goals and 27 points in just 17 games, the statistics speak for themselves. The face of the club’s future continues to embark upon a head-turning tear — the likes of which have allowed him to enter into the ranks of the league’s upper echelon.. C. TOR. AUSTON MATTHEWS
A+. Prior to the 2018-19 season, two prevailing opinions of Kapanen occupied the talk circuit of Leafs Nation: first, the notion that the 22-year-old was a promising forward whose offensive output was limited in scope; second, the idea that the winger’s horizons would be expanded if he were to be afforded an even greater role in Mike Babcock’s lineup. As the William Nylander contract sweepstakes enveloped discussions of all things hockey in Toronto, the latter opinion became especially prevalent, as Kapanen was moved to Matthews’ line and was tasked with providing the team’s top center with a much needed basis of support. Many of us failed to believe that Kapanen had this measure of talent in him — as such, he is deserving of an A+.. RW. TOR. KASPERI KAPANEN
A. Fan favorite. Defensive stud. Skilled with the puck. Increasingly responsible in his own zone. But Norris Trophy contender? And both second in goals and first in points among the NHL’s defenders? Now that’s something to write home about. Leafs fans will only hope that Rielly continues to maximize his potential in what has been a career year.. D. TOR. MORGAN RIELLY
A. The burden of pressure was on GM Kyle Dubas to sign the most desired UFA of all-time in the form of Tavares in the summer of 2018. That burden was inevitably transferred onto the shoulders of the 28-year-old center when the puck was dropped on October 3, as the Maple Leafs kicked off their first regular season with Tavares donning the blue and white. Since then, JT has been incredibly dominant, tallying 19 goals and 33 points in 31 games, as well as providing a fairly consistent degree of two-way reliability on a recurring basis.. C. TOR. JOHN TAVARES