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The Toronto Maple Leafs have slipped slightly from the lofty heights of the top the NHL standings at the league’s halfway mark, but are still leading the North Division with a 19-9-2 record. After going 11-2-1 in the first quarter, the Leafs slipped to 8-6-1 in the second, due to injuries to their goaltending, the loss of winger Wayne Simmonds and Auston Matthews wrist injury, but also because of a slip in their overall team defense.
Here is a look and evaluation of the Leafs roster, coaching and management thus far.
Management
A- - The additions made by GM Kyle Dubas are still holding up through 30 games. The signings of T.J. Brodie and Zach Bogosian have provided stability to the club’s blueline, Wayne Simmonds and Joe Thornton have made a difference on the ice and in the locker room but have been limited on the ice because of injuries, but other depth adds like Travis Boyd, Jimmy Vesey and Alexander Barabanov has been less impactful and KHL import Mikko Lehtonen was dealt to Columbus because of a lack of playing time.
The add of Alex Galchenyuk was low risk and could pay off as a good depth move down the line, but the real test for Dubas will be what move will be made before the trade deadline.
Coaching
A – Toronto’s slippage is not on Keefe, who is willing to try different things to see if they work and gives his star players the time on ice to succeed instead of maintaining rigid and inflexible control like Mike Babcock. The only criticism may be that he is going to the well too often with Matthews and Marner, who played at the end of the recent stretch as if they were fatigued.
Forwards
A+ - Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Zach Hyman – Matthews still leads the NHL with 21 goals, in spite being dogged by a wrist injury. Marner leads the Leafs with 39 points (fourth overall in NHL) and both play over 20 minutes per game. Hyman continues to be the Leafs most reliable two-way forward and someone that Keefe relies on to be a spark plug. Whatever line Hyman is on, is almost automatically the club’s most effective.
A – John Tavares, Wayne Simmonds – Tavares blends into the woodwork at times because Matthews/Marner are spectacular, but he has 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists) in 30 games and draws the top line matchup on most nights, giving Matthews more freedom to score. Simmonds made a difference with his physicality and in front of the net on the power play and his absence has been felt since breaking his wrist last month.
A- – William Nylander – The dichotomy that is William Nylander can be most accurately described by using the example of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Nylander is an awesome offensive weapon with a great shot and terrific speed that can break games open by blowing by defenders. Mr. Willie is the player who seems to be lackadaisical in all three zones or a complete disappearing act.
We have seen a lot more of the good doctor in the second quarter, as Nylander is second on the club with 12 goals and has been dynamic at times.
B+ - Jason Spezza,– Spezza has 16 points in 29 games as a fourth liner, and consistent offensive contribution from the bottom six helps take the burden off of the top six..
B - Joe Thornton, Travis Boyd, Pierre Engvall - Jumbo Joe has slowed down and shifted from the first line unit with Matthews and Marner, playing at times with Tavares and Nylander. Thornton has missed time and is having his minutes managed, but is still effective. Boyd has stepped in as an effective fourth liner at times, but Keefe shuffling personnel on the bottom unit may be an indication that he is not happy with the group.
Engvall is the most improved player in the second quarter, making the shift to center and forming an excellent checking line with Ilya Mikheyev, but that line was broken up with Hyman being moved to the top line and has been less effective with Alex Kerfoot added.
B- - Ilya Mikheyev – “Soup Man… has played hustled and shown energy as a penalty killer and a checker, and has finally started finding the net, with four goals and nine points in 30 games. C+ - Alex Kerfoot – Kerfoot continues to be moved around the lineup, playing left wing in the top six or third line center, and while his speed and skill has shown at times, he never seems to appear comfortable in either spot.
C- -Vesey started on the second line and has been moved around the lineup ever since. The big winger scored two goals early on, then went 18 straight without a goal, then scored three goals in three games, now has gone four without a point and was placed on waivers on Tuesday.
Defense
A – Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin – Rielly leads the club in defensive scoring (24 points), average ice time (24 minutes) and effectively quarterbacks the Leafs top power play unit. Muzzin is the anchor of the club’s shutdown pairing and a steadying influence, missing only two games after a broken facial bone.
A- - T.J. Brodie – The big add to the blueline in free agency, Brodie struggled a bit to start the season, but has settled in alongside Rielly on the top pairing and has provided quality minutes.
B+ - Justin Holl – The 29-year-old has settled into playing with Muzzin on the second pairing and uses his size to clear the front of the net on the penalty kill, but in recent games has shown signs of regression by being caught out of position.
B – Zach Bogosian – Toughness, veteran savvy and a big body to clear the front of the net, just what the Leafs were looking for from the low cost veteran defenseman.
C – Travis Dermott – The rotation of the bottom pairing blueliners ended with the trade of Mikko Lehtonen to Columbus. Dermott had not made any major mistakes, but had his worst game of the season against Winnipeg immediately following the trade. If there are any further slips in his play, the Leafs will likely give Rasmus Sandin a look.
Goaltending
A- - Jack Campbell – The Leafs backup played excellent in three victories over Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton, but has played only once since suffering a leg injury on January 24. The club has been quite secretive about his status and has had to lean heavily on Frederik Andersen, which is something they did not want to do.
B - Frederik Andersen – Andersen got off to his traditional sluggish start, but rebounded after the Campbell injury and carried a heavily load until he was injured in a game vs. Montreal in late February. Since returning, the Leafs starter has been average at best and his .900 save percentage in 22 games is reflective of that.
C+ - Hutchinson’s statistics are good (3-2-0, 2.39 GAA, .922 save percentage), but his performance in his last two starts vs. Vancouver and Ottawa were more reflective of his disastrous turn as the Leafs backup last season.
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