The Toronto Maple Leafs moved past the first quarter mark of the season with a 7-10-5 record, three games under .500 and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, which does not come as a surprise after an offseason of transition and talk of a painful rebuild.
Toronto is hoping that under the tutelage of head coach Mike Babcock, that veterans such as Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak and Dion Phaneuf re-establish their value to possibly be attractive commodities for trades later in the season and youngsters like Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner can grow into future building blocks.
Here is a report card of how the roster is doing so far:
Goalies
Jonathan Bernier – GS:8, W-L-T: 0-7-1, GAA: 3.17, Save %: .895
After going to arbitration and agreeing to a two-year, $8.3 Million extension over the summer, the intention was for Bernier to get a chance to prove whether he could be the Leafs starting goaltender of the present and future. That question is still unanswered as the 27-year-old took most of the losses during the club’s slow start, did not receive the offensive support that James Reimer has in his starts and suffered a lower body injury in late October that paved the way for Reimer to steal the starting job.
Bernier has played just one game since coming off injured reserve and his performance in that game made Mike Babcock go with Reimer in every game since. At some point, the Leafs will have to give him another look or move him out if they have determined that he is not up to the task.
Grade: C-
James Reimer - GS:14, W-L-T: 7-3-4, GAA: 2.07, Save %: .934
Other than the lockout-shortened 2013 season, Reimer has never made more than half of the club’s starts, but that may change under Babcock. The Morweena, MAN native struggled as much as Bernier did in October, but took advantage of his absence in November and has all seven of Toronto’s victories and a sparkling .934 save percentage.
Reimer is an unrestricted free agent next summer and has long been of the belief that he should be the primary starter, but his career-long inconsistency and tendency for giving bad goals does equate to being more than a good backup. The excellent performance in November may just be improving the 27-year-old’s market value if Toronto moves him before the February 29th deadline.
Grade: A-
Centers
Tyler Bozak – GP:18, G:4, A:10, PTS:14
After many seasons of complaints that Tyler Bozak was ill-suited to being the Leafs top line center, the club elevated Nazem Kadri to that primary role and demoted Phil Kessel’s favorite set up man to a secondary role, but the 29-year-old has proved so far that he is more than a product of Kessel’s coattails.
Playing mostly with P-A Parenteau and Shawn Matthias, Bozak leads the Leafs with 14 points, is their most effective faceoff man and leads the club with power play points.
Grade: B+
Nazem Kadri – GP:22, G:2, A:6, PTS:8
The Leafs 2009 top pick is 25 years old, coming off a year of on-ice disappointment, off-ice issues and looking for a long-term deal. As with Jake Gardiner, Kadri is a Babcock reclamation project and has been given the most ice time of any Leafs forward and top line wingers James van Riemsdyk and Leo Komarov, but has not produced adequate results.
Kadri leads the club in shots-on-goal(6th in the NHL) but has only two goals and six assists in 22 games. His ability to draw penalties is uncanny, but other important aspects like winning faceoffs and defensive zone aptitude are only slightly improved.
Grade: C-
Peter Holland – GP:17, G:3, A:5, PTS:8
Holland did not get in Babcock’s good graces early on, with wanting effort and just two points in nine games. After being scratched four games in a row in early November, the 24-year-old was given a second chance and has been more effective, with two goals and four assists in eight games.
Grade: C+
Nick Spaling – GP:16, G:0, A:2, PTS:2
Acquired in the Phil Kessel deal, Spaling has many been utilized as a checking line center, faceoff specialist and penalty killer. Playing mostly with Daniel Winnik and Joffrey Lupul, the 26-year-old has just two assists in 16 games.
Grade: C+
Byron Froese - GP:16, G:0, A:3, PTS:3
The former Chicago Blackhawks draft pick was playing in the ECHL this time last year, but after being signed to an AHL contract, Froese ended up third in scoring with the AHL Toronto Marlies. After opening eyes at training camp and a fast start with the Marlies, the 24-year-old rookie was called up in mid-October and has been effective as an energetic fourth line center/penalty killer and is second to Bozak in faceoff percentage and tops in short-handed faceoff percentage.
Grade: B-
Mark Arcobello – GP:7, G:0, A:0, PTS:0
The veteran journeyman was signed to a one-year, $1.1 Million contract in July to provide depth up the middle. After scoring 19 goals with four NHL teams last season, Arcobello was scoreless in seven games with the Leafs before being placed on waivers. Grade: D
Friday – Wingers
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