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Ex-Leafs making their mark in playoffs

September 1, 2020, 12:57 PM ET [643 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to make news this offseason with the potential of making trades and signing free agents to augment their roster, but players who the club moved out over the last couple years are making their mark with teams still active in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Nazem Kadri, who was the goat for Colorado in a Game 4 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday, once again showed a lack of discipline in Game 5, taking a retaliatory penalty against Joe Pavelski, but his first period goal was the game-winner to keep the Avs alive in the series. The former Leaf is currently sixth in the NHL with 16 points.



The 6-3 win over Dallas also featured the first playoff victory for former Leaf Michael Hutchinson, who was pressed into duty after Pavel Francouz was deemed unfit to play after allowing five goals in Game 4. Hutchinson was 4-9-1, with a 3.66 GAA and .886 save % in 15 games for Toronto and made 31 saves in the win.

Other ex-Leafs:

Par Lindholm – had 0 points in six games as a fourth liner/penalty killer for the Bruins. His most impactful moment was partially blocking a Victor Hedman point shot over the shoulder of Jaroslav Halak in Game 4.

Leo Komarov – The Leafs were not going to pay “Uncle Leo” what the Islanders did as a free agent, but Toronto definitely misses his jam and sandpaper in the playoffs. Komarov’s only goal of the postseason was the game-winner for New York in Game 3 over Philadelphia.

Matt Martin – Back to his home on the wing with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck, Martin has been a disruptive force, is averaging just under 10 minutes per game and has three goals in 13 playoff games.

James van Riemsdyk – JVR’s five-year, $35 Million contract looks like a big mistake for the Flyers less than two years in. The 31-year-old had 19 goals in a pandemic-shortened season and his defensive shortcomings have not made him a good fit with head coach Alain Vigneault. Van Riemsdyk has been a healthy scratch four times in the playoffs and has no points in nine games.

Luke Schenn – inserted in Game 2 of the Bruins series after the injury to Ryan McDonagh, Schenn is averaging over 11 minutes as a seventh defenseman and provided a big-bodied presence on the Tampa blueline.

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