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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
Oct 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Fancy Stats Player

Whether you love or hate advanced stats, they’re a part of hockey discourse now, so we thought we would hand out an award based on the “fancy stats.”

Chris Okrainetz: Matthews, Nylander and Connor Carrick have all had strong season when you look at the advanced stats, but I think Gardiner has produced the best season thus far. He has an impressive stat line that features a 53.8 CF%, a team-high expected +/- of 6.5, and a 3.2 GF/60 at even strength, which is higher than Rielly’s 2.5. Overall, Gardiner has been controlling the puck in even strength situations and it has paid dividends for the Leafs.

Say what you want about advanced stats, but Gardiner has put together a fine season thus far and the fancy stats support that notion.

Jake Middleton: Give me a break… If any statistic tells me Martin Marincin is a top four defenseman, then you need to get your eyes checked. I’ll pass on this one.

Dave Morassutti: Gardiner has earned a lot of praise for his improved play this season and the advanced stats back it up. He leads all skaters with the highest Fenwick and Corsi percentage on the team, although he has more offensive zone starts than most players on the team. He certainly has come a long way since the Randy Carlyle days, that’s for sure.

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