Right Now, Injuries Are Helping the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ injury issues have been discussed extensively this season.
People need to talk about something, and it’s understandable that injuries would account for a large
portion of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ issues. That isn’t really the case, though. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been hurt this season, but aside from Joseph Woll’s injury (a top candidate for the Calder Cup who has stolen three or four games this year that the Leafs would have lost), none of these injuries have been that serious. In fact, with the recent news that Mark Giodano is almost ready to return to action, I began to wonder if it would be best if he didn’t. Injuries Are Helping the Toronto Maple Leafs Right Now The team’s injuries seem to be more serious than their current ones.
While Timothy Liljegren lost a significant amount of time, the Leafs were able to discover the value of players like Simon Benoit and Connor Timmins. Despite his potential and ability to dominate third-pairing minutes, Liljegren hasn’t exactly had a significant NHL career thus far.
The team was genuinely benefitted by the remaining injuries.
If they signed Ryan Reaves for a single year at the league minimum, that was a terrible mistake. In fact, failing new general manager Brad Treliving of the Leafs signed him to a contract that was guaranteed for three years and much in excess of the league minimum.
Even more ridiculous than the contract was when it was signed, it has since been proven that Ryan Reaves is no longer a competent NHL player. His time on the I.R. each day is a gift to the Leafs and their general manager.
Speaking of presents, nobody has ever received a better second chance than Treliving on John Klingberg, who spared the Leafs countless tears by suffering a season-ending injury.
Following this logic, we get at Mark Giordano. The oldest player in the NHL—and it shows. Giordano’s minutes with the Leafs are decreasing by two, and his Expected Goals Rating is appalling at 47%.
Giordano skated 96 of his 196 minutes alongside William Nylander, thus his numbers are probably wildly exaggerated as well. When Gio plays without Nylander, his xGoals rating dips to 40% from their combined 58%.
The fact that nobody on the Leafs’ blue line can move the puck well, save for Morgan Rielly, has been a significant problem this season. Giordano won’t help with that, and to make matters worse, the coach has a history of over-relying on and overplaying him because he’s a seasoned player and previous star.Although Mark Giordano was a nice surprise when he first joined the Toronto Maple Leafs and is a former good player, his recovery won’t assist this squad.
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