A historic season for the Leafs

Put it all together, and it's easy to see that the Leafs achieved quite a bit this year. It will be interesting to see if the team will be able to build on this and attempt to have their first ever 50-win campaign in 2018-19.

Put it all together, and it's easy to see that the Leafs achieved quite a bit this year. It will be interesting to see if the team will be able to build on this and attempt to have their first ever 50-win campaign in 2018-19.

When Matthews scored his 30th goal of the season back in March, he became the third Leaf player to reach the plateau, joining Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk. They were one of only two teams to achieve this feat in 2017-18. Additionally, Kadri and Matthews became the only duo of centres in Leafs history to have 30+ goals in a single campaign.

When Matthews scored his 30th goal of the season back in March, he became the third Leaf player to reach the plateau, joining Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk. They were one of only two teams to achieve this feat in 2017-18. Additionally, Kadri and Matthews became the only duo of centres in Leafs history to have 30+ goals in a single campaign.

As previously mentioned, Andersen had the most wins in a season by any Leaf goalie ever. In doing so, he topped a mark previously held by

As previously mentioned, Andersen had the most wins in a season by any Leaf goalie ever. In doing so, he topped a mark previously held by Ed Belfour and Andrew Raycroft (yikes!) with 37. Having achieved this is encouraging and makes the trade with the Anaheim Ducks back in 2016 that brought Freddie here look better and better.

As previously mentioned, Andersen had the most wins in a season by any Leaf goalie ever. In doing so, he topped a mark previously held by Ed Belfour and Andrew Raycroft (yikes!) with 37. Having achieved this is encouraging and makes the trade with the Anaheim Ducks back in 2016 that brought Freddie here look better and better.

Many long-standing records of regular season success finally fell this season as the Leafs finished the year with 49 wins, and 105 points, both club records. Though Toronto has been in the NHL for over 100 years now, having these marks reached now are relieving as the team can enter a new age with these bests reached.

Many long-standing records of regular season success finally fell this season as the Leafs finished the year with 49 wins, and 105 points, both club records. Though Toronto has been in the NHL for over 100 years now, having these marks reached now are relieving as the team can enter a new age with these bests reached.

Many long-standing records of regular season success finally fell this season as the Leafs finished the year with 49 wins, and 105 points, both club records. Though Toronto has been in the NHL for over 100 years now, having these marks reached now are relieving as the team can enter a new age with these bests reached.

The one thing this current Leafs team can take pride in heading into the offseason is that their squad was able to establish franchise bests in many areas.

The one thing this current Leafs team can take pride in heading into the offseason is that their squad was able to establish franchise bests in many areas.

The one thing this current Leafs team can take pride in heading into the offseason is that their squad was able to establish franchise bests in many areas.

Now that the Leafs are done playing, what awaits is a critical few months that will dictate where the team stands once training camp opens in September.





Up to this point, the Leafs have done a fabulous job of both drafting and developing their players internally , and their efforts have been rewarded over the past two seasons. Since committing to a rebuild in 2014, Toronto has drafted their core players, resigned key veterans to reasonable deals, and made a few trades that have helped the team.





There are a few issues that still need to be addressed, most notably a top-pairing defenseman. Rielly has emerged as the Leafs top defender, but he can't do it all by himself. When he went down with an injury earlier in the season, it showed just how flawed the team's backend is without him playing. Getting a better right-shooting defenseman than Ron Hainsey , whether it's through trade or free agency, has to be the number one priority for the offseason.





Additional l y, a number of veteran players have their contracts set to expire and it's unclear who will remain and who won't. Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov, Tomas Plekanec, and James van Riemsdyk are the most notable players set to become free agents this summer. Many tough decisions will have to be made , especially with young guns like Kapanen and Johnsson knocking on the door, meaning next year will likely be a new-look team.





Perhaps most notable change this offseason will be regarding who gets to be the Leafs GM in 2018-19. Current GM Lou Lamoriello's three-year contract is set to expire and there have been no talks recently regarding a possible extension. There are a few options in the wings with assist ant GMs Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas as the front-runners for the job should Lamoriello depart. He does have a provision in his contract allowing him to stay an extra two-years in an advisory role, though we won't know until an announcement is made considering how secretive the Leafs have been with their decision - making.



