The resumption of the NHL regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs is inching closer after the NHL announced their 24-team playoff format last week, but there are still a few hurdles before players will be able to assemble for an abbreviated training camp and move forward towards the postseason in late July-early August. We will continue to provide you with updates on the league and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but we will also report on news specific to the Toronto Maple Leafs and reflect on the club’s season and player performances through 70 games.
Today we continue with the player report card by looking at a couple more of the Leafs forwards:
Alex Kerfoot
Acquired from Colorado along with Tyson Barrie for Nazem Kadri last July, the Harvard University alumnus signed a four-year, $14 Million contract extension right after the trade. The 25-year-old is a speedy smallish center with excellent playmaking skills and makes good decisions.
The Vancouver native started the season centering the Leafs third line, missed five games in November due to dental fractures, struggled offensively mid-season, and shifted to the wing after injuries to Ilya Mikheyev and Andreas Johnsson. Kerfoot appeared more effective up the middle than along the wall and when the year was halted had 28 points (9 goals, 19 assists) in 65 games.
Grade - B
Ilya Mikheyev
Not a lot was known about the Leafs KHL import, other than he was a big winger who scored 23 goals with Avangard Omsk last season. Mikheyev exceeded most expectations in his first season in North America, showing good speed and a willingness to work hard along the boards to get the puck.
After having an excellent opening month (4 goals, 6 assists in October), “Soup” struggled and went 18 games without a goal, but began to find the net in four of his last six games before suffering a season-ending wrist laceration in New Jersey on December 27.
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