Underlying numbers show the Leafs are one of the best teams in the league
Those saying the regular season doesn't matter because the Leafs haven't won a playoff round since 2004 are now the same people saying the Leafs won't win a playoff series because they lose to teams like Arizona, Ottawa and Montreal. It's not anything new and it has been an issue for decades with the Leafs and while those should be guaranteed wins, the Leafs have been beating the teams they could be facing in the playoffs like Boston, New Jersey and Tampa. No one is going to catch Boston in the standings, but the Leafs and Tampa will likely be battling it out until Game 82 to decide who gets home ice for game one as only 4 points separate the two teams.
The difference between this year's team and past teams is that, statistically speaking, they are ranked in the top 10 in most categories this year:
Points%: 4thGF: 6thGA: 6th (least)PP: 4thPK: 10thSA/GP: 6th (least)FOW%: 4th xG%: 2ndGoal Differential: 4thxGF: 3rdGAAx: 7thGF/60: 6thGAA/60: 4th (least)
The Leafs have been expected to be at or near the top of the league in goal-scoring since the Auston Matthews era began and the way Kyle Dubas has structured his forward group. But since Sheldon Keefe took over, the Leafs' defensive game is what has become most impressive. The emergence of William Nylander's strong defensive game has been fun to watch and, last season, it was Matthews. Let's not forget about the blueline where Keefe has used nearly a dozen different defensemen so far this season and, at times, having to play without three of their top four blueliners due to injuries. The team's defensive play as a group while battling a slew of injuries on the back end shows how much the team has matured this season and is committed to being better defensively.
They added two defensively sound forwards in Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, which will only help their penalty kill and overall defensive game. Should the Leafs add another blueliner at the trade deadline? Absolutely - but it is no longer a "must have". It has become more of a "want" than anything, due to the Leafs' improved defensive play.
