And the deconstruction project in Toronto continues…

Last month, we saw the trading away of a number of Toronto Maple Leafs players in exchange for pieces that will benefit the future. Interestingly enough, the quality of hockey being played doesn’t appear to have suffered, at least not without delving deep into the dark arts of fancy stats.

To a man, it appears that the group is able to compete until the final horn sounds on any given night, but, as president Brendan Shanahan opined recently, they still don’t know how to win:

“We’ve got a lot of work to go and we’re a team that does not know how to win. We have not won enough in recent years,” Shanahan said. “I really think that winning is also a learned skill.”

Class has officially begun for many of the rookies on loan from the Marlies, and it doesn’t appear that they are leaving any time soon. In fact, the call-ups continue, with defender Rinat Valiev, the Leafs’ third round pick in 2014, replacing T.J. Brennan, who in turn replaced Viktor Loov, who was injured in practice while replacing Matt Hunwick. Hunwick was shut down for the season on March 6th (sports hernia).

Brennan has been phenomenal in the AHL, topping 50 or more points in the past three seasons. He’s got an absolute rocket of a point shot and puts up a huge number of assists annually. In 2013-14, Brennan amassed 25 goals and 47 assists in 75 games with the Baby-Buds. This season, he sits third overall in AHL scoring with a whopping 22 goals and 35 assists in 59 games. Why his game has never translated to NHL-level success is a mystery that has yet to be solved.

The number of players across the league which have been shut down for the season is somewhat alarming, and the Leafs organization certainly have their fair share. Gone are wingers James van Riemsdyk (broken foot) and Joffrey Lupul (sports hernia) as well as Tyler Bozak, who has yet to return since sustaining a head injury versus the Ottawa Senators on February 6th when Mika Zibanejad caught the Leafs pivot with a high hit.

While the Leafs have been losing games at an alarming rate lately, they are almost all one-goal games where the score could have gone either way, even against elite teams like Washington, and very good teams like Tampa Bay.

The call-ups are faring surprisingly well, and in some cases, delighting both the fans and Leafs brass with a refreshing shot of positive energy and exemplary play. While Nikita Soshnikov and Zach Hyman have been standouts, Swedish rookie William Nylander has begun to make his presence felt as well. The recent game versus the Islanders stands as testament to their collective impact. The Hyman goal (his second in six games) was the result of sheer hard work and a tenacious net-drive. He may not have the highest skill level of the lot, but his work ethic and determination are earning rave reviews from his coach and teammates.

Nylander’s game-tying goal vs. the Isles with a two-man advantage may not appear like a pure goal-scorer’s goal, but the timing of it certainly suggests young William is finding his stride, and his touch. His release was lightning-quick, and the shot selection (five-hole) was purely instinctive. Nikita Soshnikov’s shootout winner showed Leaf fans a glimpse of the kind of effort – and hopefully results – they can expect in the not-too-distant future. Coach mike Babcock had this to say about the trio post-game:

“Obviously [Soshnikov] is not intimidated by anything…he plays against good players. He plays with speed. He plays without the puck. It looks like he can score… I thought this was Nylander’s best game by a mile. It was his most competitive game; first time he really skated… Hyman and [Soshnikov] are here to stay. They are real players. They’re just too good and too hard and too fast with too much work ethic. Those guys will play.”

The Leafs sit in last place across the league in terms of points with 55, however, fellow bottom-feeders the Edmonton Oilers are just six points ahead with four games in hand. Who else from the roster do the Leafs need to shut down to win the race to the bottom of the league? Not that bottoming out is on their agenda…right?

Whatever their modus operandi, the Spring of 2016 Maple Leafs are infinitely more watchable than their predecessor from twelve months prior. While their win-loss record may be as bad or worse, the compete level they demonstrate is unquestionably superior than that of a group many declared the most unlikeable, and unwatchable, in modern Maple Leafs history.

With fifteen games to go, the focus is clearly on evaluating the kids, including goalie Garret Sparks and how they perform under real pressure.

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