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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Mid-Season Awards

By Chris Okrainetz

Jan 1, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs players embrace forward Auston Matthews (34) after he scored the overtime winning goal in a 5-4 win over Detroit Red Wings in the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs players embrace forward Auston Matthews (34) after he scored the overtime winning goal in a 5-4 win over Detroit Red Wings in the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Nov 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak (42) in action against the Nashville Predators at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs defeated the Predators 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Disappointing Player

Chris Okrainetz: Tyler Bozak’s play has been a bit disappointing this season, especially in his own zone, but just to be a bit contrarian I’m going to say Nikita Soshnikov has been the most disappointing player of the first half. Yes, the feisty Russian has been buried on the fourth line this season, but that’s part of why he’s been disappointing to me.

Soshnikov had a decent stint with the Leafs last season and was expected to play some sort of role this year. Well, that hasn’t been the case. After suffering a lower-body injury during the preseason, Sosh has toiled away on the fourth line and only has four points in 31 games. I’m sure better years are on the horizon for Sosh, but unless somebody gets injured, he looks firmly entrenched on the fourth line.

Dave Morassutti: Bozak has been disappointing to me because he seems to be sheltered the most by Mike Babcock. Considering his high face-off percentage it is a head-scratcher that he does not play on the penalty kill.

He has been used in more offensive situations by Babcock and plays the second most time-on-ice on the power play but has not contributed as much on the PP. He should be lucky to be on a line with Marner and JVR because they have certainly helped him keep his offensive numbers respectable.

Jake Middleton: Outside of the obvious being any of the Leafs bottom three defenseman, there weren’t many disappointments on a team that is overachieving, but I’m going to go with Tyler Bozak.

A staple with the Leafs since 2009, Bozak was supposed to undergo a career renaissance after being properly slotted and playing alongside two elite wingers in Mitch Marner and James van Riemsdyk. To say he’s been underwhelming would be an understatement.

Despite being the longest tenured Leaf, Bozak has repeatedly made glaring mistakes in the defensive end for the Leafs, and hasn’t been as sharp as he was in comparison to past years. Although I am a big Bozak fan, it wouldn’t shock me if the Leafs shopped him at the deadline for picks and prospects.

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