Here is a report card on the progress of the Leafs after the first quarter of the season:
Overall Team Grade: A-
The Leafs trail only Nashville for the most points in the league, largely due to the goaltending of Frederik Andersen and their high-powered offense (74 goals, third-best in the NHL). The club’s defense is still considered its Achilles' heel but they have only allowed 53 goals (fifth best in the league) in the first 21 games.
Coach Grade: A-
Mike Babcock has made the Leafs a better, more consistent team while emphasizing structure, playing with energy and a tireless work ethic. He continues to be conservative when it comes to forward lines and defensive pairings, choosing not to switch combinations unless injuries necessitate them.
“I like the amount of points we have,” Babcock said on Monday prior to his squads 4-2 comeback win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. “We’ve put them in the bank, they collect interest and [now] let’s go get some more.”
GM Grade: B+
Kyle Dubas has come in and made an immediate impact as his additions during the summer have already paid dividends. Free agent pickups center Par Lindholm, winger Tyler Ennis and defenseman Igor Ozhiganov have been dependable depth additions, while the signing of John Tavares has been an expected home run. However, the rookie GM miscalculated before the start of the season losing veteran backups Calvin Pickard and Curtis McElhinney on waivers and leaving no contingency if Andersen gets injured or rookie Garret Sparks falters as a backup.
MORE: NHL Rumor Roundup: The latest on William Nylander and the Leafs
Dubas does deserve credit for his handling of the Nylander impasse thus far. He has not capitulated to the restricted free agent’s salary demands and continues to try to get him signed to a more affordable deal or look into maximizing his trade value before the Dec. 1 signing deadline.
Goaltending
Frederik Andersen: A
The big Dane was able to shake off usual October struggles by leading the NHL with 12 wins. He currently sits in the top five in games started, goals-against average, save percentage, shots faced and saves. Andersen continues to be a workhorse under Babcock, without the security of a veteran backup, and that workload could be a factor later in the season.
Garret Sparks: C
The 25-year-old has been used sparingly, starting only four times with three back-to-backs and one game when Andersen was out with a minor knee injury. Sparks allowed six goals in his first action of the season against Chicago Oct. 7 and struggled in his third outing - almost a month later - against Boston. In his last start, Nov. 16 against Anaheim he allowed only one goal in the win; however, the trust level in Sparks is not at the level than it was with McElhinney and that may result in his being used as little as possible.
Defensemen
Morgan Rielly: A+
Rielly has taken a giant leap forward after leading the Leafs blueliners in scoring last season. The 24-year-old is second in team scoring with 26 points, has already equaled his career-high nine goals through 21 games and has been mentioned as an early candidate for the Norris Trophy.
“[There’s] a lot of new faces, compared to the first couple years," Rielly commented. “The way we play as a team is different and tends to impact guys in positive ways. Your team is better and you feel comfortable with a group and a coaching staff and that can have a positive influence on guys.”
The speedy defenseman has become more involved offensively, jumping into the offensive attack at even strength and leads the Leafs in power play points (10) and average time-on-ice per game (22:09).
Ron Hainsey: C
Hainsey leads all NHL defensemen in plus/minus (+13), has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and works well with Rielly on the Leafs top defensive pairing. At 37, his speed and dependability defensively have declined but he continues to be utilized as the club’s top penalty-killing pairing with Nikita Zaitsev.
Nikita Zaitsev: B-
Zaitsev has not been the scorer the Leafs envisioned when they signed him out of the KHL in 2016 but he continues to be someone Babcock can rely heavily on. The 27-year-old has just two assists in the teams first 21 games, but leads the Leafs in ice time while shorthanded and is third (20:54) on the club in average time-on-ice.
Travis Dermott: B
After scoring 13 points in 37 games as a rookie, the 21-year-old Dermott has not piled up the points in his sophomore campaign with only three assists in 18 games. Defensively, he is considered an upgrade to the Leafs blueline with his ability to carry the puck up the ice and his skating ability, while being utilized as a penalty killer.
Jake Gardiner: B
Gardiner notched a career-high 52 points last season but has seen some of his offensive opportunities diminish due to the success of Rielly. The 28-year-old has 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) and is second to Rielly in ATOI (21:51), but quarterbacks the much less potent second power play.
JAKE GARDINER SAVES A GOAL 👀 #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/oSXZoaFVtv
— Leafs Fans United (@LeafsFansUnited) November 17, 2018
An unrestricted free agent next summer, Gardiner has cut down on some of his questionable decisionmaking that made him a liability defensively at times and has been effective at using long stretch passes that utilize the Leafs speed up front.
Igor Ozhiganov: B-
Signed out of the KHL, the 26-year-old has been a solid bottom-pairing addition for the Leafs alongside Dermott. More of a do-no-harm player, Ozhiganov is pointless in 17 games and has been rested at times with the NHL season being more taxing than what he is used to in the KHL. Head coach Mike Babcock likes the hockey sense and stability that the big Russian provides.
Martin Marincin: D
The veteran defenseman was a key contributor to the Marlies Calder Cup victory last season but has not been able to match that level of play in the NHL. The lanky Slovak has a long stick that has been useful in a penalty-killing role but continues to turn over the puck with regularity.
Forwards
Auston Matthews: A+
Matthews was on a record-breaking pace, leading the league in goals (10) and points (16) in October, before suffering a shoulder injury Oct. 27 against Winnipeg.
The 21-year old is expected to return in late November or early December. Based on his scoring prowess earlier in the year, it is highly possible Matthews will pick up right where he left off and best his career-high 40 goals this season.
SN exclusive: Michael Peca offers thoughts on William Nylander-Maple Leafs impasse
Patrick Marleau: B
Marleau continues to be a leader and a great example for the Leafs off the ice, but the 39-year-old had a slow start to his 21st season. Playing alongside Matthews on the Leafs top line he struggled; however, when the lines shifted after Matthews' injury, Marleau was reunited with Nazem Kadri and has been scoring regularly including three points in his last four games.
Nazem Kadri: B+
The shift to the third line with the addition of John Tavares did not work out well for Kadri, who went without a goal for the first nine games. After he was moved up to the second line following Matthews' injury Kadri has turned it on. He now has seven goals this season, leads the club in faceoff winning percentage (54%) and is an integral part of the top power-play unit.
John Tavares: A-
Tavares has been all that was advertised after being signed to a seven-year, $77 million contract this summer. Partnered with Mitch Marner, he leads the Leafs with 13 goals, has seamlessly taken over the top center role after Matthews' injury and been the model of consistency, with a recent seven-game point streak.
Connor Brown: B-
Brown is trusted by Babcock for his two-way ability as a third-line checker and one of the club’s primary penalty-killing forwards. The 23-year-old did get off to a slow start offensively but now has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 21 games.
Zach Hyman: B+
Hyman is highly valued for his work ethic, defensive attributes and ability to retrieve pucks for his more skilled linemates, Tavares and Mitch Marner. The 26-year-old has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 21 games after a two-goal performance against the Blue Jackets on Monday night.
Andreas Johnsson: C-
Expectations were high for Johnsson after impressing at the end of last season with the Leafs and winning the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs with the Marlies, but the 24-year-old started off the season slowly and did not score his first goal until Nov. 9. The speedy winger began to show signs of life on the club’s recent California road trip where he scored against the Los Angeles Kings.
Par Lindholm: B
A veteran of the SHL, Lindholm was signed to a one-year contract to add some versatility and forward depth. Primarily a center, the 26-year-old was playing left wing on the Leafs checking line until Matthews got hurt. He was then shifted to center, where he has been more effective and has won 56 percent of his faceoffs.
Kasperi Kapanen: A
Kapanen has shown the most improvement and growth since last season by taking full advantage of the absence of Nylander as he has stepped into a top-six forward role.
A throwback to Thursday as Kasperi Kapanen sped in for a shorthanded goal against the Sharks in this week's Front Row Seat Presented by @DairyOntario.#LeafsForever #StayRealWithMilk pic.twitter.com/Iw4O6BTJpL
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 19, 2018
The 22-year-old moved onto the top line with Matthews before his injury and has been equally as effective playing with Kadri. With eight goals in 21 games, Kapanen’s speed keeps opposing defenders from creeping up into the offensive attack and he has been successful in converting his chances into goals.
Mitch Marner: A+
The 22-year-old can make a legitimate argument for being the Leafs most valuable player, leading the club in points (28), assists (22) and average TOI among forwards (19:20). Marner has combined with Tavares to make up the Leafs most impactful offensive tandem and is the centerpiece of the club’s lethal power play. With Matthews out of the lineup, he has further stepped up his game with 13 points in 10 games.
Frederik Gauthier: D
Gauthier is the Leafs 2013 first-round pick and earned a chance at the NHL after being a key part of the Marlies 2018 Calder Cup victory. But, the six-foot-five, 232-pound center has taken advantage of the opportunity. He does not effectively use his size to his advantage, struggles to contribute offensively (two assists in 18 games) and ranks last on the team in faceoffs (47.8%).
Tyler Ennis: B+
The veteran winger was signed to a league-minimum deal after being bought out by Minnesota last summer. The 29-year-old played with Matthews to start the season but was quickly moved to the fourth line, where he has been effective as a speedy and high-energy forward.
Josh Leivo: C
After nearly two seasons as a healthy scratch, Leivo earned a place on the fourth line with a solid training camp. The 24-year-old has four points (two goals, two assists) in 21 games and plays on the Leafs second power-play unit.