The Boys in Blue Are Back!
Three factors that have the Leafs close to making the playoffs for the second time in a decade
Oh, how the times have changed.
This time last year, a Leafs fan was more focused on when the lottery draft was than the playoffs. Things aren’t looking so bleak this time around. With the Leafs in the thick of things and holding a 90 per cent chance of making the playoffs, success doesn’t seem like a pipe dream anymore. This season was supposed to be all about growing pains. But if this is what “pain” feels like, we’ll take a healthy dose of some more.
Top Three Reasons the Leafs find themselves in a playoff spot.
1. The easy answer: The Kids Are Alright
The Leafs young guns (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander) have turned the team from bottom feeders to playoff contenders in the blink of an eye. Marner just broke the Leafs’ rookie single-season record with 40 assists while drawing comparisons to Patrick Kane for his hockey IQ and playmaking ability. Nylander set the Leafs’ rookie record with a 10-game point streak and seems to get better with each game. And as I write this piece, it’s a matter of when, not if, Matthews breaks the Leafs’ rookie single season goal record set by Wendel Clark at 34 goals. Matthews does things with the puck that no 19 year-old should be able to. His ability to protect the puck and have seasoned veterans struggle to take it off of him on a nightly basis is what’s caught my attention. Put simply, Matthews is everything he was advertised to be and then some.
2. The Supporting Cast of Leaders
The Leafs’ core group of leaders often don’t get the attention they deserve. They’re the straw that stirs the drink. Watching the Leafs play this year, it’s clear that they play at a higher level when Tyler Bozak, James Van Riemsdyk, Leo Komarov, and Nazem Kadri bring their “A” game. With the young guns atop the stat sheet on most nights, this group gets overlooked and undervalued. Kadri’s two-way play is the best it’s ever been and he’s been sporting a career high 30 goals, 10 more than his previous best. Bozak taking Marner under his wing and showing his line mate the ropes, along with some juicy passes, has made a world of difference for the youngster. What makes this year so different from any previous season is that this core group doesn’t have to look over their shoulder the whole year.
Last year, no Leaf was untouchable on the trade market. Thinking any game could be your last all season long would affect any player. Having guys on the roster who were playing to get traded for prospects didn’t help either. Knowing their jobs are secure with this season’s improvement has given them a renewed sense of confidence, and it’s shown in their play.
3. More Consistency (the good kind)
Since Mike Babcock has taken over, one thing’s for sure; the Leafs are far more consistent. Consistent in their effort, their power play, their penalty killing, you name it. These new Leafs put in a solid effort night in and night out.You’re probably saying that’s still not that great, but hey, considering the way they have played the last five or so years, we Leaf fans will take it. The big difference maker this year has been their power play. Boasting the league’s top-ranked unit, it’s almost routine that the puck will find the back of the net if you put yourselves a man down against the Leafs.
What next: Playoffs?
Now as I write this, I do so in choosing my words wisely for fear of superstition.
IF the Leafs make the playoffs this year, that’s a success in itself. For the Leafs to actually do something in the playoffs, some things need to change.
First, the Leafs need to play a more consistent even strength game. Their red hot power play won’t be able to bail them out in the postseason. With penalties few and far between, playoff games are won and lost five on five.
Second, our holes on defence are bound to be exposed. No matter how biased I may be, I’ll admit that our defence has been our kryptonite all year, and that will probably continue to be come playoff time. Last but not least, while goalies can steal games, I think it’s safe to say that the Leafs’ goal tending have failed to do so all year long. Don’t expect that to change. Here’s to hoping our firepower can be our saving grace.
But as I’ve said before, even if we get bounced in the first round, this life-long Leaf fan couldn’t be more proud and optimistic about this team and its ceiling for years to come. Playoff experience isn’t a bad thing, and it sure as hell beats watching another postseason from home.
Seamus Sullivan is a hockey contributor for theocho.ca. Follow him on Twitter at @PRSeamus.
