Leafs lead the league in hits through 15 games; Matthews leading the way for the Core 4
Coming into this season, while Brad Treliving didn't outright say it, reading between the lines, we as fans were essentially promised a very different Maple Leafs experience this year.
The veteran GM put his stamp on the team in free agency, signing Ryan Reaves, Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi to contracts as UFAs on July 1st and 2nd. The thought at the time was that the Leafs didn't have enough piss and vinegar in the lineup. These three additions were meant to not only bring that element to Toronto, but also inspire some changes from the pre-existing group and help drag them into the fight.
While he has had 2 fights so far this season, the Ryan Reaves signing is largely viewed as an abject failure right now. Yes, there's time to turn that around, but it certainly won't be easy. Reaves is a team-worst -11 on the season and is coming off of a healthy scratch against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Unfortunately for Reaves, the 4th line scored a pair of goals in his absence and his replacement, Bobby McMann, tallied a pair of assists, so it's not a guarantee that Reaves will get back into the lineup anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Domi and Bertuzzi have really begun to find their game of late, with Domi forming a new-look third line with Calle Jarnkrok and Nicholas Robertson that has really come into its own in the early stages as a trio and Bertuzzi really complimenting John Tavares and William Nylander nicely on the 2nd line.
The Leafs haven't shown a lot of push-back this season, aside from Saturday night with first period fights from Mark Giordano and Max Domi. This has led to some questions over whether the Leafs are any tougher at all or whether they have bought into the organization's desire for increased physicality. Well, as it turns out, they have.
The Leafs, while not blowing away anyone in the standings, boasting an 8-5-2 record through 15 games, are actually the NHL's hitting leaders. As of Saturday, the Leafs lead the league with a combined 342 hits on the season - and it's not just the usual suspects contributing either.
Yes, Reaves does lead the team with 29 hits, but Noah Gregor has also logged 29 of his own. Auston Matthews is 3rd on the team with 25 hits on the season, followed closely by rookie winger Matthew Knies, who has logged 24 hits. Mark Giordano, David Kampf, Tyler Bertuzzi, John Tavares, Jake McCabe and Morgan Rielly round out the top-10 on the team. Even Mitch Marner has picked up the physical play, as he has been credited with 16 hits on the season thus far.
So, while the team itself may not be the most physical in terms of creating havoc and triggering post-whistle scrums, they are certainly buying into playing a more physical game this season. We know how well that brand of hockey translates come playoff time, so hopefully building these habits now will help them in the spring.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 13 | 273 ANSWERS Leafs lead the league in hits through 15 games; Matthews leading the way for the Core 4 If the Leafs continue to be one of the league's more physical teams, will they go on a longer playoff run this year? | ||
| Yes | 230 | 84.2 % |
| No | 43 | 15.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
