Toronto: An F grade is how Leafs envisioned season TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button assigns his letter grades for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the three-quarter mark of the NHL season.

Craig Button TSN Director of Scouting Follow|Archive

The Maple Leafs earn an F and that is exactly how they envisioned this season playing out. Call it a planned F but one that was accomplished with clear goals in mind. Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock have used the word pain often, but somehow this has been met with a joyful enthusiasm from the Leafs’ faithful fans.



Below are the Maple Leafs’ individual player grades.



Three factors were considered in assigning grades: performance, results and expectations, as framed by age, previous performance and cap hit/contract average annual value (AAV). Skaters must have appeared in a minimum of 25 games and goalies, 15, to be graded.

Spotlight Player Grade: Former Toronto general manager Brian Burke said that the Leafs would have drafted Morgan Rielly first overall in the 2012 draft. Nail Yakupov was the top pick that year as Rielly suffered through an early season knee injury that kept him out for months. Rielly is showing the capability of being an elite defenceman that a team can build a blueline around. Current GM Lou Lamoriello must see glimpses of Scott Niedermayer when he watches Rielly. Given the circumstances of Rielly’s ascension, the future bodes well for the Leafs with him as a pillar.

Editor’s Note: Follow TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button at @CraigJButton and join the discussion on his 3/4 mark Report Cards.

Grading System

A Excellent

B Very Good

C Satisfactory

D Poor

F Failing

Listed are the grades for player performance in the first quarter (1st Qtr) and the season so far (2015-16).