Toronto Maple Leafs: Is this finally Josh Leivo’s chance?

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Josh Leivo has tried breaking into the team for the past five seasons; could this be the year he finally does it?

Josh Leivo has had a long road to the NHL since being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (86th overall) of the 2011 draft.

Being drafted from the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, Leivo spent another two years in major juniors.

Leivo played 100 regular season games for the Wolves, earning 51 goals and 117 total points before being traded to the Kitchener Rangers – where he was also a point-per-game player with 29 (10 goals and 19 assists) in 29 games.

He added a further 12 points (three goals and nine assists) in 10 playoff games and even played a brief spell for the Toronto Marlies that season.

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Leivo was promoted full-time to the Marlies the following season and played 162 regular season games, earning 51 goals and 71 assists over the next three seasons.

Despite his strong showing in the AHL, he has only made bit-part appearances in the NHL – where he has shown flashes of potential.

Leivo scored five goals in 12 games during the 2015-16 season and added 10 points in 12 games the following year.

However, this past season saw him pick up just one goal and five total points in 16 appearances for the Leafs.

Leivo’s deployment in the offensive zone has, however, dropped greatly between seasons with the Leafs, from 61.3 percent in 15-16 to 46.1 percent in 16-17 and just 30.1 percent in 17-18.

The Innisfil, Ontario native is best utilised in situations that lend themselves to goalscoring opportunities, with his possession stats also being higher when he starts in the offensive zone more often.

Leivo has posted Corsi ratings of 56.2%, 55.3% and 48.6% over the past three seasons, dropping as his offensive zone starts dropped.

He is good for a couple of hits and blocked shots, but he is not defensive by nature and should be provided with a better opportunity next season.

If Leivo is given the chance to start more often in the offensive zone and is capable of putting up bigger numbers, on par with previous seasons, then he should take off and live up to the potential that many believe he has.

However, if the Leafs do not manage his on-ice usage better, then he could find himself as the team’s extra forward for another season.

According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, Leivo requested that the Leafs trade him last season as he wasn’t playing enough.

If Leivo finds himself being left out once again, it is reasonable to expect him to finally be traded – likely as a package that could help the Leafs on the defensive side of the game.

But this all depends on how Leivo is utilised this coming season and whether or not he is able to outperform Tyler Ennis, a player that has three 20-goal seasons in the NHL.

What do you think Toronto Maple Leafs fans? Will Leivo finally take the next step? Or will he end this coming season with another team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!