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The Toronto Maple Leafs had an extremely successful regular season, but fell below the expectations of some with a first round loss to the Boston Bruins. One of the primary tasks ahead for newly installed GM Kyle Dubas is to evaluate the players that currently make up the club and determine which should be retained and which Toronto should move on from.
We continue the evaluation of the Leafs with a look at some of the club’s forwards:
Andreas Johnsson - The speedy winger led the Toronto Marlies in scoring and was selected as an AHL All-Star, which earned the 23-year-old his first NHL look at the end of the regular season. Johnsson quickly endeared himself to head coach Mike Babcock for his hockey sense, willingness to back check and go to the dirty areas.
After the injury to Leo Komarov early in the playoffs, Johnsson played mostly on the fourth line with Nazem Kadri and Kasperi Kapanen and scored a goal in Toronto’s win in Game 5.
Grade – B
Nazem Kadri - While putting together his second straight 30-goal season, Kadri was inconsistent during the regular season, starting out red-hot and going through a scoring slump that lasted more than a quarter of the season.
The 27-year-old was a key member of the Leafs first power play unit and continued to be Babcock’s go-to guy against the opposition’s top center, mostly because of his abilities to get underneath the skin of his adversary.
The one aspect that appeared to be improved under Babcock was Kadri using more self-control and making less mistakes, but that reemerged at the most inopportune time, as his ill-advised hit on Tommy Wingels resulted in a three-game suspension and since the Leafs lost in seven games, you have to factor in the absence of Kadri as one of the main contributing factors to Toronto’s playoff demise.
Grade – B-
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The former Penguins first rounder played mostly fourth line duty and scored seven goals in 38 games, but was also a valuable asset on the penalty kill due to his great speed. His skating created a number of scoring chances during the Bruins series, but Kapanen was held goalless until a short-handed breakaway goal in Game 7.
Grade – C+
Leo Komarov - The veteran winger was one of Babcock’s most trusted options as a checker/match up winger and used heavily on the penalty kill, especially when the Leafs were two-men short.
Komarov’s declining speed forced his move to the fourth line late in the season and the 31-year-old scored just 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists) in 74 games. A late season knee injury resurfaced early in the Bruins series, and the feisty Finn was not able to return.
Grade – C
Forwards - Part III on Thursday
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