Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: Preview to the NHL Awards

By Omar L

Dec 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and center Mitch Marner (16) step onto the ice before the start of their game against the San Jose Sharks at Air Canada Centre. The Sharks beat the Maple Leafs 3-2 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and center Mitch Marner (16) step onto the ice before the start of their game against the San Jose Sharks at Air Canada Centre. The Sharks beat the Maple Leafs 3-2 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Toronto Maple Leafs could find themselves with award winners for the first time in years, at the 2017 NHL Awards on Wednesday night.

This calendar year has been different for most Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Instead of finding another team to support in the first round, the Leafs were able to prove the naysayers wrong and make the playoffs.

Another difference occurs when it comes to this year’s NHL Awards. Instead of watching people from other teams getting recognized for their success, the Leafs have a chance to win an award themselves.

After an extraordinary rookie season, Auston Matthews was nominated for the Calder Trophy. Additionally, head coach Mike Babcock was nominated for the Jack Adams Trophy.

It’s one thing for a member of an organization to speak highly of their team, but another for the league to acknowledge it too. These two nominations are more proof of the turn around the Leafs have gone through these past few years.

Babcock said during interviews in Vegas that the team would much rather be holding a different trophy. Any fan would agree, however this has to be a great start.

The Calder

It has been many years since a Toronto Maple Leafs’ player won the Calder. Brit Selby won the trophy 51 years ago after the 1965-66 season. That year, Selby was a 20-year-old winger with 14 goals and 27 points.

Matthews cemented himself as the Leafs’ best rookie in history after the season he had. Not only did he excel as a centre between two fellow rookies, but he led the team in goals and points.

Playing centre in the NHL is no easy task as the defensive responsibility is greater than when on the wing. As the year progressed, Matthews became the number one centre the Leafs hoped for.

Fellow nominees Patrik Laine and Zach Werenski had amazing seasons as well, but Matthews’ impact on the team cannot be surpassed. Here’s a list of records and milestones the 2016 first overall pick reached and surpassed this season:

  • First rookie to score four goals in NHL debut
  • Most goals by a Leaf rookie: 40 (also most goals by a US rookie)
  • Most points by a Leaf rookie: 69
  • Only NHL player to record a shot in all 82 games this season

It’s safe to say that Matthews winning the Calder is a lock.

The Jack Adams

The late Pat Burns was the last Leaf bench boss to be recognized as coach of the year. In the 1992-1993 season, Burns coached the Leafs to a 44-29-11 record.

The Leafs were eliminated in the conference finals that year. No Leaf coach has won the award since then.

More from Toronto Maple Leafs

The consensus for a possible Babcock win isn’t so clear as it is for Matthews winning the Calder. However, the work he did with this team can’t be overlooked.

Many will say it was easy for the Leafs to have success this year with the amount of skill added to the line-up. That fact is true, however, offence isn’t all there is to the game.

Babcock started this season with seven rookies in the line-up, and got each and every one of them to buy into his system. The Leafs scored their goals, but played the right way at the same time. Whenever they were victim of the very rare blowout, the team would come back swinging the next game.

All a team ever asks of their coach is to bring out the best in their team. No one can say Babs didn’t do that for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It’s not an easy task to go from 30th place in one year to a playoff spot the next. It would be hard to imagine any other coach doing that.

Babcock has already been nominated for the Jack Adams twice before. Perhaps the third time’s a charm.

Next: Is a big Leafs trade approaching?

When Babcock was first hired as the Leafs coach, he said that pain was coming. Most thought it would last a little longer, but it’s nice to see the pain subside a bit. The main goal for a Stanley Cup is still ways away, but having the league recognize the team for its success is a step in the right direction.

Home/Toronto Maple Leafs