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Toronto Maple Leafs quarter-season report card: Who is the MVP so far?

By David Morassutti

TORONTO,ON - SEPTEMBER 21: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs sets up the power play against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena on September 21, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,ON - SEPTEMBER 21: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs sets up the power play against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena on September 21, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 13: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings with his teammates at Staples Center on November 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs have met the expectations placed on them to start the season with Frederik Andersen leading the way in our quarter season grades.

Usually, NHL teams get a sense of where they are by American Thanksgiving but that doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment even the Toronto Maple Leafs should feel confident about their position.

Through 21 games, the Leafs are second in the league and first in the Eastern Conference and tied with the Nashville Predators with the best goal differential in the league. A big part of that has come from having the third most goals for despite sitting 27th in the league in goals allowed.

Considering Toronto has been without William Nylander all season and Auston Matthews missing 10 games and counting, it is no easy accomplishment even though other teams have had their fair share of injuries.

Regardless, the Leafs have thrived especially on the road where they are a league-best 9-1 including their first sweep of the California road trip since 1995. Where the team needs to improve is their play at home where they are 6-5  which is a total flip from last season where they only lost 10 games in regulation.

In our quarter season grades, we look at each part of the team and how they’ve performed this season starting with the head coach.

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