The Junk Drawer is where you throw everything you can’t find a place for, so these articles going forward will have a little of everything: Some statistics, some prospects, some opinions, some information, and anything else Leafs related. I feel like you all need to know. If there is ever anything you’d like to see appear in The Junk Drawer, just let me know in the comments.
Let’s Dive In…
The Leafs have been streaky to start the year, with three winning streaks of 2+ games and two losing streaks of 2+ games. Currently, Toronto is enjoying a two-game winning streak with victories over Original Six members Boston and Detroit, in which the Leafs outscored them a combined 7-1. Another Original Six team visits Toronto tonight as the Montreal Canadiens come to Scotiabank Arena.
Stats:
Here are Toronto’s league ranks after the team’s first fifteen games (8-5-2):
Goals For: 46 (11th)
Goals Against: 40 (9th)
Assists: 74 (12th)
Shooting Percentage: 9.94% (22nd)
Power Play Percentage: 18.4% (16th)
Penalty Kill Percentage: 85.0% (8th)
Penalty Minutes: 149 (25th)
Looking at the stats, the Leafs have done well defensively allowing only 2.67 goals against per game while scoring just over three goals a game (3.07). The shooting percentage will improve, based solely on Auston Matthews shooting at a career-low percentage to this point at 8.9 percent. Matthews has never been lower than 12.2 for an entire season.
A crazy stat: Without Auston Matthews in the lineup, the Leafs are now 39-19-2, and they have won six straight games when Matthews has been out.
News & Notes:
The Maple Leafs’ power play was dreadful to start the year but has rebounded in the last three games. Toronto’s power play is 6/11 in their last three games, with multiple power play goals in the last two games.
Mitch Marner has been playing his best hockey of the season in the last seven games. Marner has a seven-game point streak with two goals and nine assists, with a +5 over that span.
The Leafs seem to have gotten a steal in the second round of the 2021 draft when they selected Phoenix, Arizona, native Matthew Knies, with the 57th overall pick. Knies had a very good rookie season a year ago with 15 goals and 35 points in 80 games. This season, Knies has taken it to another level. The 22-year-old LW has seven goals in only 15 games, which puts him on pace for 38 goals. Knies is tied (w/Steven Lorentz) for second on the team with 35 hits behind Max Pacioretty, who has 38 hits.
Anthony Stolarz may be the best Free-Agent Signing from the offseason. The 30-year-old Edison, New Jersey native was projected to be the backup in Toronto this season. With Joseph Woll’s early season injury troubles, Stolarz has seized his opportunity and has run with it. In ten games, Stolarz is 6-2-2 with a 2.00 GAA, .930 SV%, and one shutout. In his last three games, he’s been even better, posting a 2-0-1 record and a .964 SV % with only 3 goals allowed.
Injury News:
Auston Matthews skated this morning for the first time since last Sunday’s game. It’s an encouraging sign that the superstar Center is getting closer, but he will miss his third straight game tonight.
Free Agent signee Connor Dewar, who has yet to play for the Leafs was recalled when Toronto placed Matthews on IR. Dewar had a goal and an assist in a conditioning stint with the Marlies. Look for the rugged forward to make his debut for the Leafs shortly.
In the Minors:
The Marlies have started the season 6-1-0-1 for third in the North Division, with Alex Nylander and Alex Steeves tied for the club lead in goals with five. Logan Shaw leads the Marlies with 8 points (1g, 7a), and 2022 5th-round pick, Left Wing Nikita Grebenkin has 6 points (2g, 4a) in eight games.
Leafs Prospects in Juniors:
A couple of Leafs prospects have had strong starts to their Junior seasons:
2023 1st round pick Easton Cowan has 16 points (9g, 7a) in 12 games for the London Knights in the OHL.
2023 6th round pick, Noah Chadwich has 14 points (3g, 11a) in 14 for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL. The 6-foot-4, 203 lb. defenseman is the Captain of the Hurricanes.
Leafs Prospects In the NCAA:
A couple of Maple Leafs prospects have had strong starts to their collegiate seasons:
Sophomore Forward Hudson Malinoski has started fast for Providence College with 5 points (2g, 3a) in 7 games.
Senior Defenseman John Fusco has 3 points (1g, 2a) in 3 games with Dartmouth College.
Week ahead:
The Leafs look to extend their two-game winning streak tonight against Montreal. Toronto will stay in the Atlantic Division to face the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, followed up by a quick trip down to D.C. to face the Washington Capitals on the 2nd night of a back-to-back. The Leafs will get a few days of rest before hosting Stanley Cup Finalist, the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night in Toronto. This is not an easy stretch of games for the Leafs but are all certainly winnable contests.
