Year in review: A memorable 12 months for fans of the boys in blue and white
January: The Leafs blow a thirdperiod lead in Philadelphia, their fourth loss in a row and their seventh loss in nine games. Goalie Frederik Andersen delivers a harsh message: “We’ve got to figure out who wants to commit to playing for the team.” They were on their way to losing again the next game in Ottawa when Patrick Marleau spoke up. “You don’t want to have to do that,” Marleau says. “You want the team to be clicking on all cylinders.” The Leafs come back in Ottawa and go on to win 10 of 12 games. February: Nikita Soshnikov and Eric Fehr are traded away, Tomas Plekanec is acquired from Montreal for added depth as a fourth-line centre. “We want to go for it,” Kadri says after the trade deadline.
March: With Auston Matthews sidelined for a third time, Mitch Marner’s offence comes to life. The Leafs break their franchise record for wins and home wins with a victory over Florida. Marner has a run of 15 goals and 35 points in 28 games after being moved onto Kadri’s line and ultimately leads the team in scoring. April: The Leafs set franchise records for points in a season (105) and wins at home (23) and Andersen sets the franchise mark for wins by a goalie (38).
But it is all for naught with a first-round exit from the playoffs. The Leafs are blown out of the first two games in Boston but withstand a suspension to Kadri and push Boston to seven games. May: Dubas is named the 17th general manager in team history. Lamoriello and Hunter eventually leave their posts. Laurence Gilman comes in as a new assistant GM, while Brandon Pridham also assumes the title of assistant GM. Lindholm and Ozhiganov sign as free agents. Says team president Brendan Shanahan: “I think we are a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup probably a little sooner than we thought.” June: The Marlies win the Calder Cup, a first for the franchise and the first men’s professional hockey trophy in the city since 1967.
“This core group is gonna do it again — at another level,” says Sparks. Dubas makes Soo Greyhounds defenceman Rasmus Sandin the Leafs’ firstround selection at the draft in Dallas. July: Canada Day became John Tavares Day as the Islanders captain follows his heart to sign with his hometown team — for seven years and $77 million. “They have accomplished so much in such little time,” Tavares says. “You can only think about the trajectory they are on, and I think that’s what gets me excited.” August: The Leafs hire Canadian women’s hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser as assistant director of player development. It’s not about gender diversity, says Dubas.
“We’re looking for the best people, period.” September: It’s decided the Leafs’ captaincy will remain vacant prior to the team assembling for training camp in Niagara Falls. Notable for his absence is William Nylander, who remains unsigned. He’s the first of the young guns whose contract is up for renewal. “We can and we will,” becomes Dubas’ mantra on his desire to keep his core together and sign Nylander. October: The Leafs get off to an 8-4-0 start; Matthews has 10 goals in the first six games and his goal celebrations draw the ire of some.
“At some point you have to do what makes you happy and put yourself out there, have fun and not care what people think,” the Leafs centre says. Matthews has 16 points before being sidelined again on Oct. 29. November: Marner (two goals and 18 assists for the month) and Tavares (10 goals, seven assists) lead the offence in Matthews’ absence.
“I think (Marner has) found a nice groove here and he’s only going to just keeping getting better,” Marleau says. December: It goes right down to the wire, but Nylander signs a bonus-heavy, seven-year deal that will pay him $41.5 million. Dubas: “When they called and William said: ‘Do you want to make a deal?’ At that point I knew we were on the right track. Right down to the wire.”