Toronto Maple Leafs 2014-15 Season Primer

The Toronto Maple Leafs are the final Atlantic division team in our 2014-15 Season Primer series.

Use the below Tabs to view Maple Leafs info for this upcoming season, as well as some numbers from last year.

2013-14 record: 38-36-8, 84 points
Where they finished: 6th in the Atlantic; 12th in the East; tied for 22nd in the NHL

Player Salaries: $76,979,167 (23)
Cap Payroll: $68,640,000
Bonuses: $850,000
Cap Space: $360,000
Retained Salary: $200,000
Buyouts: $833,333
Forwards: $40,900,000 (15)
Defensemen: $20,994,167 (6)
Goalies: $5,200,000 (2)
Source: CapGeek.com

In:  Daniel Winnik W/C, David Booth LW/RW, Matt Frattin RW/LW, Mike Santorelli C/RW, Petri Kontiola C, Roman Polak D, Stephane Robidas D

Out: Carl Gunnarsson D, Dave Bolland C, Drew MacIntyre G, Jay McClement C, Jerry D’Amigo LW, Mason Raymond LW/RW, Nikolai Kulemin RW/LW, T.J. Brennan D, Tim Gleason D

2014-15 Team Outlook:

Last season definitely wasn’t the follow up that the Leafs were looking for after making the playoffs for the first time in nine years during the 2012-13 season.

Missing the playoffs yet again, after a much too familiar late season collapse, the Leafs found themselves this offseason looking for a new identity; both with management and players.

First came the hiring of NHL Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan as the new team president, followed by the dismissal of assistant coaches Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon. The shakeup didn’t stop there though with the firings of vice-president of hockey operations Dave Poulin and vice-president and assistant general manager Claude Loiselle. The Leafs took a much different direction with the hiring of 28-year old Kyle Dubas to be the assistant general manager. Dubas previously served as the general manager of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and is known for being an avid supporter of advanced analytics, something in which is very new to the league, but is popping up more and more. Finally, the assistant coach positions were filled out with Peter Horachek, who served as the interim head coach of the Florida Panthers after Kevin Dineen was fired, and Steve Spott, who was the head coach of the Toronto Marlies team last season that reached the AHL’s Western Conference Final.

On top of all the management changes came the multiple role player acquisitions that the Leafs made this offseason.

The top-six forward group remains pretty much untouched, with the top line of Tyler Bozak, Phil Kessel, and James van Riemsdyk returning and the only change being that David Clarkson’s position on the right-wing of the second-line with Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri might now be up for the taking. Clarkson struggled offensively last season, which opens up the door for rookie William Nylander or a new addition such as David Booth or Matt Frattin to potentially pry that spot away from him with a solid camp. The main changes to the forward group come in the Leafs bottom-six, where other than Peter Holland, it will look completely different (and yet the same with bringing back Leo Komarov and Frattin). The other new players vying for spots will be former Anaheim Duck and penalty-kill specialist Daniel Winnik, former Vancouver Canuck Mike Santorelli and Petri Kontiola, a Finnish centreman who spent last season in the KHL. With the forward group as deep as it is, it will be hard for young players to crack the line-up, but that won’t stop the likes of prospects Frederik Gauthier, Carter Ashton, Josh Leivo, Greg McKegg, David Broll, and Connor Brown from trying. Veteran’s Colton Orr, Trevor Smith, and Frazer McLaren will also be in the mix as well.

Defensively, the Leafs look a little more stable, adding defensive-defensemen Stephane Robidas via free agency from the Anaheim Ducks and Roman Polak, who they acquired in a trade for Carl Gunnarsson from the St. Louis Blues. Bringing back Cody Franson for another year, as well as Jake Gardiner on a five-year, $20.25 million deal shows that the Leafs management has faith in the two defensemen that have drawn so much media scrutiny that last couple seasons. Robidas is likely to slide in beside Dion Phaneuf on the top-pairing, with Gardiner and Franson on the second, and Polak and young Morgan Rielly on the third. Other defensemen who will be fighting for a roster spot are prospects Stuart Percy, Matt Finn, Petter Granberg and Korbinian Holzer.

In net, the Leafs will once again have a nice goalie tandem after re-signing James Reimer for two-year, $4.6 million (despite thoughts that he has requested to be traded) to play alongside starter Jonathan Bernier. After finally becoming a number one option for the first time in his career last season, Bernier appears to be in line to take another step forward this season, but, should he falter it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a goalie of Reimer’s ability waiting in the wings to back him up.

After mainly sticking with the same core of players from last season, the Leafs by no means are heavily improved, yet, they seem a lot more solid. The scoring abilities of the Kessel, JVR, Bozak line, along with the second-line, mixed with the new found grit and hockey smarts of the bottom-six, it should still be enough to put the Leafs in the mix for the playoffs in a lower seed. It should be remembered that although the main core failed to make the playoffs last season, they did make them it the previous year; it is definitely in their make up to accomplish this.

Written by Greg Stamper, who can be found on twitter @g_stamp91.

The depth chart listed below was taken from NHL.com’s 30-in-30. 

FORWARDS
James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel
Joffrey Lupul – Nazem Kadri – David Clarkson
Leo Komarov – Petri Kontiola – David Booth
Daniel Winnik – Mike Santorelli – Matt Frattin
Colton Orr – Troy Bodie

DEFENSEMEN
Dion Phaneuf – Stephane Robidas
Jake Gardiner – Cody Franson
Morgan Rielly – Roman Polak
Korbinian Holzer

GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier
James Reimer

Forwards POS HT WT DOB BIRTH PLACE
Carter Ashton R 6′ 3″ 215 1-Apr-91 WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
Troy Bodie R 6′ 5″ 226 25-Jan-85 PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB, CAN
David Booth L 6′ 0″ 212 24-Nov-84 DETROIT, MI, USA
Tyler Bozak C 6′ 1″ 195 19-Mar-86 REGINA, SK, CAN
David Clarkson R 6′ 1″ 200 31-Mar-84 TORONTO, ON, CAN
Matt Frattin R 6′ 0″ 205 3-Jan-88 EDMONTON, AB, CAN
Peter Holland C 6′ 2″ 194 14-Jan-91 TORONTO, ON, CAN
Nazem Kadri C 6′ 0″ 188 6-Oct-90 LONDON, ON, CAN
Phil Kessel R 6′ 0″ 202 2-Oct-87 MADISON, WI, USA
Leo Komarov C 5′ 11″ 198 23-Jan-87 NARVA, EST
Petri Kontiola C 6′ 0″ 204 4-Oct-84 SEINAJOKI, FIN
Joffrey Lupul L 6′ 1″ 206 23-Sep-83 FORT SASKATCHEWAN, AB, CAN
Colton Orr R 6′ 3″ 222 3-Mar-82 WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
Mike Santorelli C 6′ 0″ 189 14-Dec-85 VANCOUVER, BC, CAN
Trevor Smith C 6′ 1″ 195 8-Feb-85 OTTAWA, ON, CAN
Daniel Winnik C 6′ 2″ 207 6-Mar-85 TORONTO, ON, CAN
James Van Riemsdyk L 6′ 3″ 200 4-May-89 MIDDLETOWN, NJ, USA
Defense HT WT AGE DOB BIRTH PLACE
Cody Franson 6′ 5″ 213 26 8-Aug-87 SICAMOUS, BC, CAN
Jake Gardiner 6′ 2″ 184 24 4-Jul-90 MINNETONKA, MN, USA
Dion Phaneuf 6′ 3″ 214 29 10-Apr-85 EDMONTON, AB, CAN
Roman Polak 6′ 0″ 236 28 28-Apr-86 OSTRAVA, CZE
Morgan Rielly 6′ 1″ 205 20 9-Mar-94 VANCOUVER, BC, CAN
Stephane Robidas 5′ 11″ 190 37 3-Mar-77 SHERBROOKE, QC, CAN
Goalie HT WT AGE DOB BIRTH PLACE
Jonathan Bernier 6′ 0″ 185 26 7-Aug-88 LAVAL, QC, CAN
James Reimer 6′ 2″ 208 26 15-Mar-88 MORWEENA, MB, CAN

A look at the Toronto Maple Leafs top prospects heading into this season. Each source may use different classifications as to if a player is deemed a prospect or has graduated on from a prospect.

RK NHL.com ESPN
Corey Pronman
Dobber Prospects Hockeys Future The Hockey News
1 William Nylander William Nylander Morgan Rielly William Nylander William Nylander
2 Stuart Percy Andreas Johnson William Nylander  Josh Leivo  Fredrick Gauthier
3 Fredrick Gauthier Matt Finn Peter Holland  Matt Finn  Matt Finn
4 Connor Brown  Fredrick Gauthier  Josh Leivo  Fredrick Gauthier Andreas Johnson
5 Matthew Finn  Connor Brown  Matt Finn Stuart Percy  Connor Brown
6 Andreas Johnson Stuart Percy  Greg McKegg  Connor Brown Petter Granberg
7 Viktor Loov  Josh Leivo  Fredrick Gauthier  Carter Verhaeghe Andrew MacWilliam
8 Josh Leivo Petter Granberg  Carter Verhaeghe Andreas Johnson  Greg McKegg
9 Antione Bibeau  Carter Verhaeghe  Connor Brown Carter Ashton  Josh Leivo
10 Tom Nilsson Tom Nilsson  Antione Bibeau Rinat Valiyev Rinat Valiyev

* Dobber Prospects – Prospects based on relevance in a fantasy-hockey keeper league, not actual talent on the ice.

Toronto Draft History from the past five years

2014 Draft
Rd. Draft # Player Pos. Team Ht. Wt.
1 8 William Nylander RW MODO (SWE) 5′ 11″ 175
3 68 Rinat Valiev D Kootenay (WHL) 6′ 1″ 205
4 103 John Piccinich RW Youngstown (USHL) 5′ 11″ 190
5 128 Dakota Joshua C Sioux Falls (USHL) 6′ 1″ 182
6 158 Nolan Vesey LW South Shore (USPHL) 5′ 11″ 198
7 188 Pierre Engvall LW Frolunda Jr. (SWE) 6′ 4″ 191
2013 Draft
1 21 Frederik Gauthier C Rimouski (QMJHL) 6′ 5″ 210
3 82 Carter Verhaeghe C Niagara (OHL ) 6′ 1″ 181
5 142 Fabrice Herzog RW Zug Jr. (SWISS-JR. ) 6′ 2″ 176
6 172 Antoine Bibeau G PEI (QMJHL ) 6′ 2.5″ 207
7 202 Andreas Johnson LW Frolunda Jr. (SWE-JR. ) 5′ 10″ 183
2012 Draft
1 5 Morgan Rielly D Moose Jaw (WHL) 6′ 0″ 190
2 35 Matt Finn D Guelph (OHL) 6′ 0″ 200
5 126 Dominic Toninato C Duluth East HS (MIN) 6′ 0″ 165
6 156 Connor Brown RW Erie (OHL) 5’10” 160
6 157 Ryan Rupert C USA U-18 5′ 8″ 186
7 209 Viktor Loov D Sodertalje (Swe-2) 6′ 1″ 187
2011 Draft
1 22 Tyler Biggs RW US NTDP 6′ 2″ 202
1 25 Stuart Percy D Mississauga (OHL) 6′ 1″ 175
3 86 Josh Leivo LW Sudbury (OHL) 6′ 2″ 180
4 100 Tom Nilsson D Mora Jr (Swe) 6′ 0″ 176
5 130 Tony Cameranesi C Wayzata HS (Min) 5′ 9″ 162
6 152 David Broll LW Sault Ste Marie (OHL) 6′ 1″ 215
6 173 Dennis Robertson D Brown U (ECAC) 6′ 0″ 195
7 190 Garret Sparks G Guelph (OHL) 6′ 2″ 200
7 203 Max Everson D Edina High ( HIGH-MN ) 6′ 0″ 185
2010 Draft
2 43 Bradley Ross LW Portland 6′ 0″ 211
3 62 Greg McKegg C Erie 6′ 0″ 191
3 79 Sondre Olden RW Modo Jr. 6′ 3″ 172
4 116 Petter Granberg D Skelleftea Jr. 6′ 3″ 200
5 144 Sam Carrick C Brampton 6′ 0″ 188
5 146 Daniel Brodin RW Djurgarden Jr. 6′ 1″ 172
7 182 Josh Nicholls RW Saskatoon 6′ 2″ 174
Player GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S%
Phil Kessel 82 37 43 80 -5 27 8 0 6 305 12.1
James Van Riemsdyk 80 30 31 61 -9 50 9 2 3 279 10.8
Nazem Kadri 78 20 30 50 -11 67 7 0 2 148 13.5
Tyler Bozak 58 19 30 49 2 14 5 1 1 90 21.1
Mason Raymond 82 19 26 45 -6 22 6 1 4 178 10.7
Joffrey Lupul 69 22 22 44 -15 44 6 0 1 191 11.5
Cody Franson 79 5 28 33 -20 30 1 0 0 115 4.3
Dion Phaneuf 80 8 23 31 2 144 2 0 0 145 5.5
Jake Gardiner 80 10 21 31 -3 19 2 1 1 136 7.4
Morgan Rielly 73 2 25 27 -13 12 1 0 0 96 2.1
Nikolai Kulemin 70 9 11 20 -4 24 0 0 4 81 11.1
Carl Gunnarsson 80 3 14 17 12 34 0 0 1 48 6.3
Paul Ranger 53 6 8 14 -1 36 0 1 0 59 10.2
Dave Bolland 23 8 4 12 -1 24 1 1 2 33 24.2
David Clarkson 60 5 6 11 -14 93 1 0 1 102 4.9
Jay Mcclement 81 4 6 10 -8 32 0 0 1 67 6
Troy Bodie 47 3 7 10 6 26 0 0 0 50 6
Peter Holland 39 5 5 10 1 16 1 0 0 40 12.5
Trevor Smith 28 4 5 9 -3 4 0 0 2 24 16.7
Tim Gleason 39 1 4 5 -14 55 0 0 0 28 3.6
Carter Ashton 32 0 3 3 1 19 0 0 0 23 0
Jerry D’Amigo 22 1 2 3 -1 0 0 0 0 12 8.3
Josh Leivo 7 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 25
Mark Fraser 19 0 1 1 -8 33 0 0 0 6 0
David Broll 5 0 1 1 1 5 0 0 0 3 0
Jerred Smithson 18 0 0 0 -5 9 0 0 0 2 0
John-Michael Liles 6 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 5 0
Colton Orr 54 0 0 0 -3 110 0 0 0 12 0
Frazer Mclaren 27 0 0 0 -2 77 0 0 0 4 0
Jamie Devane 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Greg Mckegg 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Petter Granberg 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Spencer Abbott 1 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 2 0
Goalie GPI GS MIN GAA W L OT SO SA GA SV%
Jonathan Bernier 55 49 3084 2.68 26 19 7 1 1787 138 0.923
James Reimer 36 32 1785 3.29 12 16 1 1 1095 98 0.911
Drew Macintyre 2 1 95 2.53 0 1 0 0 51 4 0.922

Performance and Usage Charts for the Maple Leafs from last season, from Extra Skater.

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