Yes, Leafs fans, you ain’t missed nothing yet
While the Blue Jays had your attention, the Leafs were living up to expectations
Between Jose Bautista bat flips and David Price coming out of the bullpen, you can be forgiven if you haven’t wanted to look too closely at the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Last you saw, probably, they went to Halifax for training camp and surely, you’re thinking they must be back by now.
They are. But as you come out of your Blue Jays delirium and before you get too close, there’s still time to look away. Hey look over there, Toronto FC is in the playoffs. So are the Argos. And the Raptors are starting and they’re pretty good.
The Leafs? “We’re capable of winning, but we have to get everybody playing at the level they’re capable,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said. “The positive side is the effort that is given each and every night. What the players give, and what Mike asks will be the foundation.”
Still with me? OK. Here’s what you missed:
THE BABCOCK EFFECT
Mike Babcock comes as advertised: intense and organized. And he has made Toronto a “safe place” for players by lowering expectations. The team is not expected to win, and they are not winning. It’s an incredibly well-executed sales job. Normally, one win in eight games would draw references about 18-wheelers going over cliffs. Not for Babcock, who is in the honeymoon stage of an eightyear, $50-million contract. But the losses will wear on the coach. He’s not used to it, and he seems flummoxed at times when the team doesn’t do things the way he wants.
WHO’S THE NEW KESSEL?
If you put money on Leo Komarov to replace Phil Kessel’s goal scoring and his presence on the first line, you could be mortgage-free. Komarov hasn’t been much of a scorer in the NHL, but he has excelled in his short time on the first line, with four goals and an assist. (Kessel, by the way, has three goals in Pittsburgh). Komarov is the kind of just-get-the-puck player Babcock likes. The Leafs are scoring 2.38 goals a game, 20th in the NHL, a little better than expected.
LOSING THE RIGHT WAY
It used to be the Leafs would win while getting outplayed. The critics were hard on them because the style of play was unsustainable. Now, even with the Leafs losing, the critics are happy because Babcock has them playing the right way. They carry the play, they outshoot and out-chance opponents. At even strength, the Leafs are actually OK, outscored just 19-17. But their special teams play is among the worst in the league.
NO NO. 1 IN NET
So if the scoring isn’t as bad as expected and the style of play is akin to what succeeds in today’s NHL, why all the losses? Let’s take a shot — usually the first shot — at the goaltending. Neither Jonathan Bernier nor James Reimer have grabbed the mantle. Bernier tends to give up firstperiod goals that leave his team in a hole. Reimer hasn’t allowed fewer than three goals in his three starts. The Leafs are allowing 3.25 goals per game, fourth-worst in the league. Given the team is spending more time in the offensive, this is particularly troubling.
LIFE OF RIELLY
If there is a changing of the guard, it’s on the blue line where Morgan Rielly has emerged as the Leafs’ top defenceman. He leads the team’s blueliners in ice time (22:59) and goals (two). Rielly and Matt Hunwick kill most of the penalties. This has been a positive development for the less-is- more strategy for Dion Phaneuf, who has six points and leads blueliners in power play ice time (2:28).
IS THERE HELP?
Lamoriello is already scavenging the trade market, of course, but it’s the Marlies where the real help is developing. Will the Leafs call up William Nylander or Connor Brown or other top prospects? Quite possibly. “There is no question in my mind that there are between five and seven players with the Marlies who will be playing in the NHL in the near future,” Lamoriello said.