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Toronto Maple Leafs Top 10 Moments in 2016

By Chris Okrainetz

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Auston Matthews poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number one overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Auston Matthews poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number one overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Feb 13, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (34) awaits the start of play against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

Honourable Mentions:

These moments were close to making the top 10, but they just missed the cut. However, they were still significant enough that they deserve mention.

James Reimer Trade

A fan favourite since his rookie season in 2011, a number of fans were upset to see Reimer go and even felt that he didn’t get a real opportunity to prove himself as the No. 1 goalie in Toronto since he was bounced from starter to backup on a few occasions.

Despite his connection with Leafs fans, the team traded him to the San Jose Sharks on February 27 for a conditional fourth-round pick as part of their deadline makeover. Looking back on it, the trade worked out well for both Reimer and the Leafs. Toronto got their pick and Reimer got an opportunity to experience the Stanley Cup Finals, albeit as a backup, and eventually sign a long-term deal with the Florida Panthers.

Nikita Zaitsev Signing

It’s generally a crapshoot when teams sign players from the KHL, but the Leafs struck gold with Zaitsev when they signed him on May 2. The 25-year-old Russian has the skillset of a first pairing defenceman and, perhaps more importantly, he wants to be a Leaf for the foreseeable future.

Toronto Dominates the Hockey Landscape

These aren’t necessarily Maple Leaf related events, but Toronto has been the centre of the hockey world this year when you consider the city has hosted the World Cup of Hockey, the World Juniors and — if you’re willing to stretch it by one day — the Centennial Classic. Throw in the Leafs Centennial celebration and it’s been on heck of a year for Toronto hockey as a whole.

The Youth Invasion

Although the majority of these players had some NHL experience under their belt from the previous season, the Maple Leafs went with seven youngsters on their opening night roster: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Connor Brown, William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Connor Carrick and Nikita Zaitsev.

Other youngsters like Nikita Soshnikov, Frederik Gauthier and Byron Froese would see time during this season too, but the message was clear from opening night — the future is now.

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