Toronto Maple Leafs quarter-season report card: Who is the MVP so far?
Forwards
A+. . Tavares, Marner, Hyman. . Leafs Top Line
What Leafs fans want to see the most out of anything is this team at full strength because even the depth has started to pick things up, eventually, it will be tough to go without Auston Matthews and William Nylander for long stretches.
The de facto top line featuring John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman has picked up the slack with Tavares and Marner in the top three of the team’s scoring list. While they might not get the recognition that other top lines are getting around the league, they have come through when the Leafs need them too at both ends of the ice.
Babcock is big on having balance across his four lines and if the Leafs really wanted to they could have put a more offensively driven player instead of Hyman but we have seen time and time again the impact he can have just with his forechecking ability alone.
B+. . Kadri, Marleau, Kapanen. . Leafs Second Line
After a slow start to the season, Nazem Kadri has picked up his production playing with Kasperi Kapanen and Patrick Marleau.
What makes this line function so well is the speed Kapanen brings which was on full display against the San Jose Sharks when he and Marleau connected on a two-on-one then again when he burned Erik Karlsson for a breakaway goal.
It was a tough start to the season for Marleau and while he hasn’t looked himself there isn’t a reason to be concerned yet. It might be a good idea to keep him with Kadri when Matthews returns since it seems to work when both are together.
B-. . Lindholm, Brown, Johnsson. . Leafs Third Line
Where the injury to Matthews and absence of Nylander really impacted the Leafs was in their bottom six because it forced Par Lindholm to anchor the third line with Connor Brown and Andreas Johnsson.
The trio hasn’t terrible but expecting Johnsson and Brown to carry the load offensively is asking a lot despite both having their own individual success. Luckily for the Leafs, Brown remains an important component on the penalty kill and while some are wondering if the Leafs can afford him long-term, that’s not something he or the team are thinking about right now.
Leafs Fourth Line. C+. . Gauthier, Ennis, Leivo.
The fourth line seems to have found its groove lately with Tyler Ennis showing why he deserved another chance in this league with some highlight reel goals. His emergence has rejuvenated Josh Leivo and Frederik Gauthier who looked to be on their last chances with the organization.
Gauthier is showing he can play 10 minutes or less a night and what he lacks for in offensive talent he makes up for it with his defensive ability. Leivo has been good on the forecheck but hasn’t been able to generate enough chances be a consistent offensive threat.
Once Nylander returns someone will have the draw out and it could be a toss-up, it would probably be Leivo since having Gauthier and Lindholm in the lineup gives Babcock flexibility. Ennis has been a model citizen and that will earn Babcock’s favour in roster decisions.
Next, we will take a look at the blueline.