How Ryan O'Reilly, Luke Schenn and other Leafs deadline pickups have helped Toronto's 2023 playoff run

Bryan Murphy

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How Ryan O'Reilly, Luke Schenn and other Leafs deadline pickups have helped Toronto's 2023 playoff run image

Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas went all-in at the 2023 trade deadline, bringing in six new faces to the organization ahead of its playoff push. 

Those acquisitions are proving that Dubas hit all the right buttons. 

Most Stanley Cup champion benefits from midseason moves. Just look at last season and the effects that Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson, Andrew Cogliano and Nico Sturm had with the Avalanche in their Cup run. 

As the Maple Leafs battle with the Panthers in the second round of the 2023 NHL playoffs, the deadline pickups have been a large part of the team's success. Led by former Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly, the newest Toronto skaters have made impacts in various ways. 

Dubas is in the final season of his contract, and his job could've been on the line when he made all those deals at the beginning of March. He hasn't been re-signed yet, but it's not a stretch to say without some of the players brought in midseason, Toronto would not have been able to get by Tampa Bay and win its first playoff series since 2004. 

There is still work to be done and the Leafs won't be satisfied with anything less than a Stanley Cup. The Sporting News is tracking how Toronto's deadline acquisitions have performed in the playoffs. 

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How Maple Leafs trade acquisitions are performing in 2023 playoffs

(Getty Images)

Ryan O'Reilly

O'Reilly is the exact kind of player needed for a championship run. He can produce on offense, but more importantly, he's great defensively and can be relied on in the faceoff dot. He has the 2019 Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe to back it up.

So far, he hasn't disappointed. O'Reilly is fourth on the team in points with eight and tied for second in assists with six. He had the game-tying goal with a minute left in Game 4 against the Lightning. The former Blues captain is fourth on the Leafs in expected goals (2.5) and gives Toronto a versatile option, showcasing an ability to play a top-six wing role or slide into the middle on the third line. 

Assistant coach Spencer Carbery has bumped O'Reilly up to the top power-play unit, where he has already had a power-play goal. You don't get the nickname, "The Factor" for nothing, and O'Reilly has been one of the Leafs best trade deadline pickups in quite some time. 

Luke Schenn

Schenn was essentially brought in for one reason and one reason only: to hit anyone and everything. The regular season hits leader hasn't stopped in the postseason, as his 40 hits rank second on the Leafs and are third out of all skaters in the playoffs. 

What we have seen out of Schenn in the playoffs with the Leafs has exceeded expectations. The veteran blue liner has played incredibly well in his second stint with Toronto. His 58.63 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) is first among Leafs defensemen and fourth out of all skaters. 

MORE: Maple Leafs vs. Panthers second-round preview for 2023 NHL playoffs

He's been a steady presence alongside the offensive-minded Morgan Rielly, allowing him to jump up in the play more often while Schenn stays behind. 

Jake McCabe

I thought the acquisition of McCabe was overlooked by the rest of the trades made by Dubas at the deadline. He doesn't hold the same name value as O'Reilly or Schenn, but he's a reliable top-four defenseman that brings grit to the back end. 

He's shown that so far in the playoffs. McCabe's 36 hits are third on the Leafs and tied for fifth out of all skaters in the playoffs. He hasn't gotten on the scoreboard yet, but he's a minute-muncher, averaging 22:28 per game, the third-most among the Toronto defensemen and fourth-most on the team. 

McCabe has a tendency at times to look for the hit too often and put himself out of position in the process. But it hasn't killed the Leafs yet, and it's part of what makes him an effective defenseman. 

Noel Acciari

While O'Reilly was rightfully the headliner in the Leafs trade with the Blues, Acciari has been an excellent addition to the bottom half of the forward group. 

Acciari has two goals so far in the playoffs, averaging 15:29 minutes per night, the sixth-most out of the forward group. His biggest impact has come in the physicality department, as the 31-year-old leads the playoff in hits with 49. He's also added 11 blocked shots, which are among the most out of the forwards. 

The line of Acciari, O'Reilly and Michael Bunting has been a pain to play against for opponents given their sandpaper style. The Leafs needed an upgrade in the bottom six, and Acciari has provided that. 

(Getty Images)

Matthew Knies

OK, so no, Knies wasn't a deadline acquisition. But we're going to count him because he joined the team late in the season and has made a much bigger impact than expected. 

Knies played in three regular season games before making his NHL playoff debut in Game 2 of the Lightning series once Bunting was out with his suspension. He hasn't left the lineup since even getting promoted to the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. 

MORE: How Maple Leaf Square became Toronto fans' home for watching playoff games

He scored his first NHL goal in Game 1 against the Panthers, recorded three assists and was on the ice for all three of Toronto's overtime goals against the Lightning. Knies' 58.89 xGF% is second on the team to only Matthews. 

There were never questions about Knies' ability to translate his game to the NHL. He's so good along the wall at protecting the puck and has some slick skill. It just wasn't expected that he would come in this quickly and immediately play an expanded role. He hasn't disappointed and has been a big part of the Leafs' success so far. 

Sam Lafferty

Lafferty's role has taken a hit with the emergence of Knies. After playing in the first five games against the Lightning, he was the odd man out once Bunting returned from his suspension and did not play in the opener against the Panthers. 

In five games, Lafferty has an assist while averaging 10:19 time on ice. When he is in the lineup, he's strictly out there for defense, faceoffs and penalty killing. Only David Kampf has started a higher percentage of shifts started in the defensive zone, and Lafferty's 60% in the faceoff dot leads the team. 

Erik Gustafsson

Gustafsson has seen action in just one game so far, playing 7:38 in Game 6 against the Lightning. His role in Toronto has greatly differed from the top-four minutes he was playing in Washington.

The veteran defenseman is a strong depth option to have if someone on the blue line goes down at some point during the playoffs. 

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.