Leaf roster a mix of youth and veterans
Can Rielly, Gardiner and Komarov gel with Lupul, Phaneuf and Boyes?
The Leafs 2015-16 roster:
DEFENCE
Dion Phaneuf NHL seasons: 11
2014-15 stats: 70 games played, 3 goals, 26 assists
Key stat: Led the team in ice time per game and his 13 power-play assists were second on the team.
In short: Phaneuf’s greatest challenge this season will be to keep a strong line of communication between the team and coach Mike Babcock. Phaneuf may need to assure the Leafs are not worn out under Babcock’s high demands for conditioning and tempo.
Morgan Rielly
NHL seasons: 2 2014-15 stats: 81 GP, 8 G, 21 A Key stat: Tied for second in team scoring after the all-star break last season.
In short: Rielly stepping forward as the face of the franchise; will need to get his shot on goal, especially if he is the lone defenceman on Babcock’s power-play scheme of four forwards with one defenceman. Growing into his role as a team leader will be key to the team’s rebuild.
Jake Gardiner
NHL seasons: 4 2014-15 Stats: 79 GP, 4 G, 20 A Key stat: Minus-23 last year and a collective minus-28 in 246 career games as a Leaf.
In short: Admitted his 2014-15 season was not up to expectations. Playing better will improve the team’s issue areas — passes out of zone, puck movement out of zone and through neutral zone.
Stephane Robidas
NHL seasons: 17 2014-15 stats: 52 GP, 1 G, 6 A Key stat: 52 games last season marked his highest total since 2012.
In short: Will need to stay healthy and continue his leadership role. Will likely sit as many games as he plays, and possibly more, as a seventh defenceman, so his contributions will be as a veteran who leads by example in practice and as a dressing room sage.
Roman Polak
NHL seasons: 9 2014-15 stats: 56 GP, 5 G, 4 A Key stat: Second on the team in hits (225) and first in blocked shots (128) last season.
In short: Had a solid season last year in terms of grittiness and compete level. He will need to lead the team in those areas again since the defence will feature strong skating and puck movement, but could lack physical presence.
Matt Hunwick
NHL seasons: 8 2014-15 stats: 55 GP, 2 G, 9 A Key stat: Led Rangers defence last year in offensive Corsi and highest goals for per 60 minutes minus relative teammate.
In short: Hunwick’s advanced Corsi figures were almost certainly spotted by the Leafs analytics department. He appears to be Phaneuf’s new defence partner, but also an expected team leader in puck possession and defensive zone exit metrics.
Martin Marincin
NHL seasons: 2 2014-15 stats: 41GP, 1 G, 4 A Key stat: Rated as one of the best Oilers defencemen at defensive zone exits and entry breakups.
In short: Another find by the Leafs analytics department; held his own in Edmonton in terms of puck possession stats, so he could be a key factor to Leafs, where he is battling Scott Harrington and Robidas for the sixth and seventh blueline jobs.
FORWARDS
Nazem Kadri
NHL seasons: 6 2014-15 stats: 73 GP, 18 G, 21 A Key stat: Leads all NHL forwards over the past three seasons in penalty differential per 60 minutes, with 89 penalties drawn.
In short: Should be first-line centre and top scorer, marking the first time in his career for such expectations. Claims to have had his best off-season in training, so table is set for production, and then a chance to land a huge new contract.
Joffrey Lupul
NHL seasons: 12 2014-15 stats: 55 GP, 10 G, 11 A Key stat: Is second on the Leafs over the past five seasons at 1.99 points per game per 60 minutes.
In short: Every top-six forward has greater expectations after last season, and Lupul is no exception. Should be on a line with Kadri, and the two need to expand on the chem- istry they’ve developed on and off over the past three seasons.
James van Riemsdyk
NHL seasons: 6 2014-15 stats: 82 GP, 27 G, 29 A Key stat: Second on Leafs last season in average time on ice per shift (19:05).
In short: His line with Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel led the league in minus (van Riemsdyk was minus-33) last season, so improvement there is a definite goal for this season. Will also be called on to be among team leaders in scoring with Kessel gone.
Tyler Bozak
NHL seasons: 6 2014-15 stats: 82 GP, 23 G, 26 A Key stat: His 4.3 Corsi Relative says Leafs got 4.3 shots less than their opponents when Bozak is on the ice — a low last season among Leaf centres.
In short: Bozak spent almost 80 per cent of his time on ice last season with Kessel — the highest among any two forwards — so this will be either a challenge this season without Kessel, or a welcome change of scenery (since Bozak did not see a corresponding spike in points or puck possession). Leafs need better possession figures from him this season.
Peter Holland
NHL seasons: 4 2014-15 stats: 62 GP, 11 G, 14 A Key stat: Holland spent 37 per cent of his time on the ice last season with Jake Gardiner, marking the second year in a row for that result.
In short: Holland was third in the NHL in turnover plus-minus at plus-46 — a sterling stat given the Leafs were a collective minus-47 in plus-minus a year ago. His solid performance there should once again make him a good possession player for the third- or fourth-line centre job.
Leo Komarov
NHL seasons: 2 2014-15 stats: 62 GP, 8 G, 18 A Key stat: Led the Leafs with 250 hits last season.
In short: Komarov was one of the best Leafs in terms of grit and establishing a forecheck. His offensive zone start per cent at even strength (42 per cent) paled to his defensive metric (57 per cent) which reflected penalty kill and reliability in his zone — that will only help the Leafs this season.
P.A. Parenteau
NHL seasons: 6 2014-15 stats: 56 GP, 8 G, 14 A Key stat: Offensive zone starts at even strength was 66 per cent last season while defensive zone starts were at 34 per cent.
In short: Those zone starts were no doubt high on the radar for the Leafs analytics department. Parenteau also sports a solid 55.5 Corsi rating over his career, all of which should bolster Babcock’s possession oriented systems. Shawn Matthias NHL seasons: 8 2014-15 stats: 78 GP, 18 G, 9 A Key stat: His 18 goals last season tied him for tops among centres with the Vancouver Canucks.
In short: Can play centre or wing, and when the Leafs signed him this summer, they increased their numbers of players who can play centre to six. Has been in double digits in scoring since the last lockout, and his18 goals last season marked a career-high. He’ll be called on to carry the scoring load for Toronto. Brad Boyes NHL seasons: 13 2014-15 stats: 78 GP, 14 G, 24 A Key stat: According to TSN research, Boyes is the only one of 45 players who’ve had positive scoring chance impact on their teams for five consecutive seasons, and making less than $3 million per season.
In short: In the waning years of his career, Boyes averaged 16-plus goals per season over the past two seasons in Florida. He could be a top-six forward with the goal-challenged Leafs. At the very least, he will pick up scoring potential on a bottom line if he ends up there.
Mark Arcobello
NHL seasons: 3 2014-15 stats: 77 GP, 17 G, 14 A Key stat: 59.9 per cent Corsi for percentage at even strength in 10 games for Pittsburgh last season, a career high possession. stat
In short: Arcobello tied an NHL record by playing for four teams last season (waived twice). His Corsi stats probably attracted the Leafs analytics department: he’s a career 49.2 per cent Corsi for five-on-five, so he should help the Leafs possession figures this season.
Michael Grabner
NHL seasons: 6 2014-15 stats: 34 GP, 8 G, 5 A Key stat: Has been just over 50 per cent in Corsi for percentage 5x5 in each of his last three seasons with the Islanders.
In short: Leafs acquired Grabner on the opening day of training camp, and Grabner’s speed was a factor. He won the fastest skater competition among rookies at the Super Skills competition. Has 11 short-handed goals in 297 career NHL games, and that could be a factor for Leafs this season.
Richard Panik
NHL seasons: 3 2014-15 stats: 76 GP, 11 G, 6 A Key stat: His 12.60 shooting percentage was second on the Leafs last season among regular forwards (50 games or more).
In short: Panik has scoring potential for the bottom two lines — needs to pick up his two-way game this season, but the scoring factor is undeniable for a Leafs team that wants all four lines contributing and showing positive possession numbers.
Daniel Winnik
NHL seasons: 8 2014-15 stats: 79 GP, 9 G, 25A Key stat: Career-high in points last season and 25 of them came in 58 games with Leafs.
In short: Established himself as one of the Leafs best and most consistent forecheckers and backcheckers last season. A solid possession player throughout his career, which attracted Leafs to bring him back this summer as a free agent. Should bolster the third line this coming season.
GOALIES
Jonathan Bernier
NHL seasons: 6 2014-15 stats: 58 GP, 21 wins, 28 losses, 2.87 goals-against average, .912 save percentage.
Key stat: His save percentage dropped from .923 in 2013-14, but that was in part because the Leafs were the second-worst team in the NHL last season in total shots allowed and shots per game allowed.
In short: Tough arbitration this summer before settling on a two-year contract. Bernier and Reimer are definitely in a battle for the No. 1 job. Still has the inside track and better structure under Babcock should help Bernier’s overall performance.
James Reimer
NHL seasons: 4 2014-15 stats: 35 GP, 9 wins, 16 losses, 3.16 GAA, .907 save percentage
Key stat: Has averaged about 95 goals against in each of the two seasons he’s faced 1,000 or more shots.
In short: Babcock said he normally goes with a defined No.1 goalie. However, in training camp, the coach opened the door to the top job for both of his goalies — will Reimer be able to capitalize on this golden opportunity?