The Sun: The Maple Leafs of season's first half are legit Stanley Cup contenders

[ACC1224]

Some rare optimism from Simmons.

SIMMONS: The Maple Leafs of season's first half are legit Stanley Cup contenders

A year ago, the Maple Leafs beat one of the better teams in the Western Conference, but the defeated team was hardly impressed.
“That may have been the softest team I’ve seen this year,” one of the coaches said privately after the game. “Believe me, they’re not going anywhere.”

It turned out the coach was right.

This season, the Leafs played the same team, leaving a vastly different impression.

“The way Chief (coach Craig Berube) has them playing, they’re a different team now. They’re going to be a handful for anyone in the playoffs,” the coach said.

But in just a season and a half, Treliving has made a coaching change and overhauled almost 40% of the roster. Berube is a fine coach. So was Sheldon Keefe, who was let go.

The difference: Berube coaches the game the way Treliving wants it played. Having a GM and coach in step can be a key to playoff success, even if it didn’t translate that way when Kyle Dubas and Keefe worked together here.

Click to read more...

 

[AvroArrow]

I hate you for making me read a Simmons article <3

 

[SprDaVE]

Hopefully they can live up to the expectations

 

[mikeyz]

When Simmons is saying this, you know that this year might be different.

No sarcasm. Because he’s always been generally negative towards the Leafs.

We’ll see what happens. I am still not getting my hopes up until I see what they do come playoff time. Even though I love what Berube has done with this team and making them play different (Tighter defensive play, tougher play and better goaltending)compared to Keefe. I still have to reserve judgement until then.

 

[conFABulator]

Surprisingly positive piece from Steve Simmons. When it comes to this team, it really feels like the eye test is driving the narrative—does this group feel different? Statistically, we’ve been in almost the exact same spot for most of the last seven years: near the top of the division, similar or better point totals, plenty of goals scored, and even a few years with stronger defensive numbers.

If we believe this team is different, it’s because of what we’re seeing, not what’s in the standings. One thing that stands out, though, is how we’re closing out games in regulation. Winning more without relying on OT feels like a real step forward, and that’s definitely encouraging.

 

[Anthrax442]

Id like to see Domi settle down. He is still too erratic

 

[ACC1224]

Surprisingly positive piece from Steve Simmons. When it comes to this team, it really feels like the eye test is driving the narrative—does this group feel different? Statistically, we’ve been in almost the exact same spot for most of the last seven years: near the top of the division, similar or better point totals, plenty of goals scored, and even a few years with stronger defensive numbers.

If we believe this team is different, it’s because of what we’re seeing, not what’s in the standings. One thing that stands out, though, is how we’re closing out games in regulation. Winning more without relying on OT feels like a real step forward, and that’s definitely encouraging.

They tightened up defensively, Tanev and McCabe have been exceptional.

Plenty to like about Maple Leafs as the club hits the midway point

The impact of coach Craig Berube and the play of Mitch Marner, Chris Tanev and the goalies have been crucial in the Maple Leafs' success.

torontosun.com

The nail-biting third periods have been left behind. The Leafs, through 41 games, are 19-0-0 when leading after 40 minutes. They’ve allowed 67 goals during five-on-five play, the second-fewest in the Eastern Conference and a number that puts them on pace to allow 134 in 82 games. In Sheldon Keefe’s last season as coach in 2023-24, the Leafs gave up 168 goals at five-on-five.

 

[Stephen]

I think the weekend games vs Boston and Philadelphia were illustrative of old Leafs and new Leafs.

The Boston game was a back and forth affair, sloppy goaltending and took star power having huge points nights and a hat trick to win shootout style. The Philadelphia game wasn’t pretty but they were very comfortable playing a tighter game and found an opportunity to win in OT by the narrowest of margins. The former was like a house party, the latter was like a day at the office.

 

[Fogelhund]

The Leafs had a mediocre start to the season. Eight points, in the first eight games to October 25th.

Since those first eight games, Toronto is tied for the second most points, with 46 points since, in 33 games. Vegas has 48 points since that date, Edmonton has the same 46 points, though in 32 games.

NHL Standings 2024-2025

NHL Standings based on games between Oct 25, 2024 and Jan 5, 2025.

www.quanthockey.com

They've played very well after that start, there is no question about that... does that make them playoff contenders... not in my mind... they haven't been in the past, and until they prove that they can be... they aren't.

I mean.. I think this is the best team we've had so far though... but... are the core going to perform when needed?

 

[BertCorbeau]

I’ll believe it when I see it from this core.

Talk is cheap and we’ve been fooled with good regular seasons before.

(And yes the team does look different under Berube which is encouraging)

 

[Suntouchable13]

Hopefully they get the top divisional seed, after that there's no excuses. Should be able to beat a WC team. Then the Panthers are not as good as they have been before. Tampa scares me, though.

 

[Fogelhund]

Who we face doesn't matter. We defeat ourselves with our play...

 

[conFABulator]

They tightened up defensively, Tanev and McCabe have been exceptional.

Plenty to like about Maple Leafs as the club hits the midway point

The impact of coach Craig Berube and the play of Mitch Marner, Chris Tanev and the goalies have been crucial in the Maple Leafs' success.

torontosun.com

To be clear; I agree.

We have tightened up and I mentioned how we are much better at closing our games. You also pointed out how much better our 5 on 5 play is.

I was simply pointing out, and this surprised me, that our points and position in the standings this don't jump out as outliers for this group.

I will say that this team had some built in excuses for lesser results than they are putting up; new coaching staff and systems, Matthews injury, Stolarz/Woll injuries, and compressed schedule and back to backs and even with all of this we are top of the division and in pace for 108 points, impressive.

 

[ULF_55]

They are getting some wins that are ugly, but take the points and run.

Bruins game is one where you can say they outscored their issues.
Horrible defence overcome by timely scoring.

 

[thewave]

The nuts and bolts are there. I will give them that.

 

[ACC1224]

REPORT CARDS: Grading the Toronto Maple Leafs at NHL's midway point

As the Maple Leafs hit the midway point of the 2024-25 regular season, we grade each player on his overall performance so far.

torontosun.com

Mid point rankings.

Top rankings for each position.

Anthony Stolarz — 9.0​

When Stolarz departed the game against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 12 with what later revealed by Treliving to be a knee issue, he was leading NHL goalies with a .927 save percentage. His save percentage of .863 on high-danger chances at five-on-five is fourth among NHL goalies who have played at least 17 games. Before he was hurt, Stolarz was demonstrating that he could be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL after years of backing up the likes of Sergei Bobrovsky in Florida and John Gibson in Anaheim. We’d expect the same once he returns.

Chris Tanev — 9.3​

It’s rather clear why Treliving wanted a reunion with Tanev after the two worked together in Calgary. From the first game of the season, Tanev has been the driver on defence as the Leafs settled in to Berube’s enhanced structure. The NHL-high blocks speak to some of Tanev’s impact, but not all of it. When you’re talking Tanev with his teammates, it’s all about his positional play and poise. The Toronto native has been a rock.

Mitch Marner — 9.5​

If we’re talking Hart Trophy candidates, Marner is that guy for the Leafs. He has consistently been Toronto’s best player. Only Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl had more than Marner’s 56 points through Sunday. Marner leads NHL forwards with 31 takeaways. He’s a vital cog on a Leafs penalty kill that is eighth in the NHL. Contract pressure? Nothing approaching a hint of that. Marner has been excellent.

 

[All Mod Cons]

He's not wrong. Brad and Craig have done an excellent job thus far.

 

[ruaware41]

same old same old, let's see what happens in the post season

 

[Lightsol]

Great, we're screwed. Simmons is always wrong...

 

[Menzinger]

There's a lot of flaws with the current team. The East/Division are also wide open.

The Leafs have been owed some good luck/fortune for some time now by the hockey gods. At this point I'll take a deep run anyway I can get it

 

[Evilhomer]

There's a lot of flaws with the current team.

I disagree. I think everyone can agree that more offense is likely needed from the defense, but this team otherwise has very few flaws, and it finally has elite-level coaching and goaltending. As I said at the start of the season, by the end of the season the Leafs will be the Cup favourite.

 

[Gary Nylund]

There's a lot of flaws with the current team. The East/Division are also wide open.

The Leafs have been owed some good luck/fortune for some time now by the hockey gods. At this point I'll take a deep run anyway I can get it

Absolutely. I want them to go deep, how it happens doesn't matter much to me. Just win.

There are some encouraging signs. Goaltending is at the top of the list, playing "the Berube way" is next on the list.

The biggest concern is history. We've seen 8 years of good hockey in the regular season followed by sub .500 hockey in the playoffs, and I've lost count of the game 7 choke jobs. The main culprits are JT, Marner and Matthews who's production falls off big time in the playoffs so it's hard to get overly confident when these same guys are still taking up such a huge chunk of the cap. There are other issues as well but that's by far the main one and if these 3 don't earn their pay, this team won't go far. I think they should win at least one round, not even doing that much would be a complete disaster.

I disagree. I think everyone can agree that more offense is likely needed from the defense, but this team otherwise has very few flaws, and it finally has elite-level coaching and goaltending. As I said at the start of the season, by the end of the season the Leafs will be the Cup favourite.

No offence, but your track record with predictions sucks. That is all.

 

[GoonieFace]

I disagree. I think everyone can agree that more offense is likely needed from the defense, but this team otherwise has very few flaws, and it finally has elite-level coaching and goaltending. As I said at the start of the season, by the end of the season the Leafs will be the Cup favourite.

They lack consistent secondary scoring.
They lack overall speed.
They are mid pack in allowing high danger chances against.
They are getting elite level goaltending.

If they had this goaltending last year, I think you would see similar results. Not discounting everything so far this year, but I think they are benefiting from a general weakness in the Eastern Conference.

Hopefully they can take advantage this year and make a run.

 

[nsleaf]

Has anyone mentioned that it's all about the playoffs?

 

[BraveCanadian]

Great! A Sun article.. now I know it isn't true