MAKING THE GRADE

Our Leafs report card rewards progress, suggests homework and peeks into the future

If there was a turning point to the Maple Leafs’ record-setting season, it came in the first intermission of their eighth game.

They were on a four-game losing streak that featured lopsided losses to an undermanned Pittsburgh Penguins team and an overpowering Carolina Hurricanes squad. Questions were being raised.

Had the playoff loss to the Montreal Canadiens been too much to take? Were new voices needed in the room? Was the team built properly?

A black cloud hung over them. And when the Leafs gave up the first two goals to an incredibly weak Chicago Blackhawks team — one that had not held a lead in any game until then — folks wondered if they had the fortitude to carry on. Someone spoke up.

No one ever said who it was, but according to forward William Nylander the message was clear: “Time to wake up. Enough feeling sorry for ourselves. Nobody’s going to get us out of this but the guys in the locker room.”

Then John Tavares scored. David Kämpf, an ex-Blackhawk, forced overtime. And Nylander won it. It not only saved the season. It might have saved jobs.

And it’s a message they might want to take forward: No one is going to feel sorry them. No one is going to get them out of their firstround losing streak but the guys in that room.

Nylander’s OT winner sparked an incredible 15-2-0 run, and they reasserted themselves as an elite* team (*regular season only).

They’ll come back in the fall with largely the same group, perhaps in a nasty mood rather than a sombre one. They might even challenge this season’s franchise-best 115 points. So pencil them in for a seventh straight playoff appearance.

And with that in mind, let’s look back at the entire season — not just the playoffs — and grade the Leafs individually.

FORWARDS

Auston Matthews A+

Contract Two seasons left (cap hit: $11.634 million U.S.) on a five-year, $58-million deal. Doesn’t have a no-movement clause.

Season Broke the franchise record with 60 goals (including 50 in 50 games, a Leafs first), won his second Rocket Richard Trophy and is a finalist for the Hart and Ted Lindsay. Alas, no Conn Smythe consideration. Folks noticed his defence and he has added grit — mostly hits and using his body. Led the league with 92 takeaways.

Value Immeasurable. Just 24, he’s already mentioned among the Leafs’ all-timers. He moved from 14th to ninth (259) in career goals in franchise history and should have no problem passing Wendel Clark (260), George Armstrong, Frank Mahovlich (296 each) and Rick Vaive (299) next year.

Future A Leaf for as long as he wants. Eligible to sign an extension at the end of next season. Will he? If he doesn’t, he’ll signal an intention to become a free agent in 2024, setting off all sorts of fireworks.

Mitch Marner A+

Contract Three seasons left (cap hit: $10.893 million) on a six-year, $65million deal

Season Developed a consistent shot and had a career year for goals (35), making him a two-way threat. Like Matthews, asserted himself in the playoffs as well. He remains an elite penalty killer with three shorthanded goals.

Value There aren’t many like him: playmakers who can score and kill penalties. He moved from 25th to 16th in franchise history in points with 455, two less than Matthews.

Future Also a Leaf for as long as he wants to be. No-movement clause starts in 2023-24.

Michael Bunting A

Contract One more year at $950,000

Season Up for rookie of the year after a 23-goal, 40-assist season, not bad for a guy who started on the fourth line and worked his way up to become the new Zach Hyman. His ability to draw penalties — tied for third in the league with 45 — enabled one of the league’s best power plays to get to work. The effort was always there. Playoff fade might have been injury related. Value Hard to imagine Matthews and Marner without him.

Future More like him, please.

David Kämpf A

Contract One more year at $1.5 million

Season Career year (11 goals, 26 points) for the 27-year-old shutdown centre, who drew tough assignments at even strength and ended up plus-12. The Leafs never lost when he scored. Led Toronto forwards with 203 minutes of ice time while short-handed. Played 51 per cent of the time in the offensive zone (five-on-five), yet started in the offensive zone only 25 per cent.

Value Perhaps underappreciated by the fan base, but not by the team.

Future Another year like that could result in a big payday.

John Tavares B+

Contract Three seasons left (cap hit: $11 million) on seven-year, $77-million contract with a no-movement clause

Season Got off to a terrific start (33 points, plus-7 after 30 games) but slowed once the calendar turned to 2022 (43 points in 49 games, but minus-15). Still a point-a-game player, and had a decent playoffs. Won 60.6 per cent of his faceoffs, second in the league to Patrice Bergeron. Led the Leafs, however, with 65 giveaways and 2.73 giveaways per 60 minutes.

Value Captain. Leader. Untradeable. He’ll be 32 when the puck drops next season, and will feel more heat with his production measured against a sizable cap hit.

Future He’ll be the second-line centre for some time.

Alexander Kerfoot B+

Contract One year left (cap hit: $3.5 million) on a four-year, $14-million deal

Season Career-high 51 points with no power-play time. Might score more if he passed less. Plays all forward positions, top six or bottom six. Was eighth among NHL forwards with 65 blocked shots.

Value Versatility makes him a coach’s favourite.

Future Cap space may be more valuable than he is.

William Nylander B

Contract Two years left (cap hit: $6,962,366) on a six-year, $45-million deal with a 10-team no-movement clause starting July 1, 2023. Like Matthews, he could sign an extension then.

Skinny Career highs in goals (34), assists (46) and points (80) but somehow always leaves you wanting more. Continues to walk that “fine line between nonchalance and low panic,” as general manager Kyle Dubas said in the “All or Nothing” docuseries. The minus piled up, and chemistry with Tavares seemed to vanish.

Value We say it every year: The contract is a relative bargain. Remains their most tradeable commodity.

Future He’ll be traded one day, just not this summer.

Pierre Engvall B

Contract Restricted free agent

Season Career year in goals (15), assists (20) and points (35).

Value Has emerged as a middle-six forward and valuable penalty killer.

Future The Leafs will try to retain him at a bargain price.

Ilya Mikheyev B

Contract Unrestricted free agent Season Finally started scoring — 21 goals, a career best by far — converting breakaways by driving to the net. Also a valued penalty killer. Value Starting to fulfil his promise at 27.

Future They would love to keep him (his agent once tweeted “Show him the money” after a big goal) but another team will easily outbid the cap-strapped Leafs. Maybe they can trade his rights for a fifth-round pick.

Ondrej Kaše C

Contract Restricted free agent

Season Excellent between concussions, with 14 goals and 50 games personal bests since 2017-18. Fearless, but concern for his health.

Value Top-six skill

Future The Leafs may look for a similar player who can remain healthy.

Jason Spezza C

Contract Unrestricted free agent

Season Most goals in five years (12), and 22nd among NHL forwards with 2.51 takeaways per 60 minutes (Connor McDavid was 23rd). Was also often a healthy scratch.

Value Intangibles

Future Player development coach

Colin Blackwell C

Contract Unrestricted free agent

Season Two goals and one assist in 19 games by the speedy trade-deadline pickup doesn’t tell the whole story. Played mostly fourth-line minutes, but like Kerfoot could fill other roles.

Value Versatility is his strength.

Future If spots open up, there’s room for him. He won’t cost very much.

Wayne Simmonds C

Contract One more year at $900,000

Season Five goals, 96 penalty minutes, minus-seven. Still physical, but other parts of his game are diminishing at 33.

Value Good locker-room guy, keeps opponents honest.

Future Could be waived or buried in minors if he doesn’t return to form.

Kyle Clifford C

Contract Two more years at

$762,500

Season One goal, two assists in 23 games for the 31-year-old, a good soldier in reporting to the AHL’s Marlies when waived and the cap situation required it. Fast and physical. Rotated with Simmonds and Spezza on the fourth line.

Value The Leafs need a guy like him to plug in now and then.

Future Another up and down year — the life of a role player.

DEFENCE

T.J. Brodie A+

Contract Midway through fouryear, $20-million deal

Season Did he even once make a mistake? OK, maybe one or two. Helped every defence partner improve. An under-the-radar defenceman if there ever was one. It almost seems silly to judge his offence, but four goals and 24 assists seems about right considering he rarely plays the power play.

Value Makes everyone around him better.

Future Rock solid in Toronto

Morgan Rielly A

Contract Starting eight-year, $60million deal that should take him close to the end of his playing days

Season Career-high 58 assists. Quarterbacks the top power-play unit, which rebounded. The conscience of the Leafs and their longest-tenured player.

Value The contract feels about right: 21 blueliners signed for next season have higher cap hits.

Future Re-established as core piece.

Mark Giordano B+

Contract Heading into unrestricted free agency after six-year, $40.5million deal

Season Good stick, good positioning. Two goals, 10 assists and plus-12 in 20 games after trade from Seattle. Mentored Timothy Liljegren.

Value Leader, calming voice.

Future At age 38, he could be the Jason Spezza of Leafs defencemen

if both sides want it.

Jake Muzzin B

Contract Halfway through fouryear, $22.5-million extension (cap hit: $5.625 million)

Season Not as rock solid as he had been. Frequent pairing with Justin Holl might have been a factor. Also injuries (two concussions, one upper body). Appeared in 47 games, fewest since his rookie season. Was back to himself in the playoffs.

Value There is no heir apparent as a stabilizing, physical defenceman.

Future Pivotal piece and a leader.

Ilya Lyubushkin B

Contract Unrestricted free agent

Season Instantly clicked on the right side with Rielly after mid-season trade with Arizona for freeagent disaster Nick Ritchie. Holes in his game emerged in the playoffs, notably moving the puck up ice, but big hits kept opponents on guard.

Value They called him the Russian Bear, immediately popular with teammates.

Future Other teams will come calling. If he returns, he’d be better suited on the bottom pair.

Timothy Liljegren C+

Contract Restricted free agent

Season The 2017 first-round pick finally emerged as a bona fide NHL defenceman, passing fellow Swede Rasmus Sandin on the depth chart. Right-handed shot helps. End-ofseason pairing with Giordano seemed to bring out the best in Liljegren, who has sometimes lacked self-confidence.

Value Good, young, cheap, righthanded defencemen are hard to find.

Future Could end up as a top-pair, right-side blueliner.

Rasmus Sandin C

Contract Restricted free agent

Season Roller-coaster year ended with an ankle injury that limited him to 51 games. Still, career highs in goals (five) and assists (11). Healthy scratch in the playoffs.

Value If Rielly gets hurt, he can run the power play. Future With Rielly signed longterm and Giordano perhaps coming back, Sandin may be trade bait. No point letting him stagnate.

Justin Holl C

Contract Heading into final season (cap hit: $2 million) of a three-year, $6-million extension

Season What happened? Plenty of mistakes early in the season hurt his confidence and cost him playing time. Had a strong playoffs, though.

Value Depth

Future Could see life as seventh Dman. The Leafs may look for a taker.

GOALTENDING Jack Campbell B+

Contract Unrestricted free agent

Season An all-star. Then terrible. Then hurt. Then OK. Then better. Then almost terrific again. Perhaps he has developed the mental toughness required.

Value Battles as hard as any forward or defenceman.

Future Not the perfect option, but might be the best available option. All the other teams looking for goalies might be thinking the same thing, so price becomes a factor.

Erik Källgren C Contract One more year at $750,000

Season Was probably fifth on the depth chart to start, behind Michael Hutchinson and Joe Woll. The fact that he was healthy when Petr Mrázek got hurt with the Leafs, while Woll got hurt with the Marlies, earned him the call to back up Campbell and he held the job. The 25-year-old’s first NHL experience (14 regular-season games, one playoff appearance) gives him a leg up going into training camp.

Value Reliable, though hardly confidence-inducing.

Future Will get a fair shake in camp.

Petr Mrázek F

Contract Heading into second season of three-year, $11.4-million deal (cap hit: $3.8 million)

Season An unmitigated disaster. Call him Petr Mraybe, as in Mraybe he’ll play. Chose to rehab his groin rather than have surgery last summer, then reaggravated it three times. Posted career-worst 3.34 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in 20 games.

Value He’s more valuable on longterm injured reserve, so the Leafs can spend $3.8 million elsewhere.

Future Robidas Island.