After Thursday night time’s win over the New Jersey Devils, with two video games within the books, the Toronto Maple Leafs discover themselves in a 1-1 break up. They sit atop the Atlantic Division—tied with 5 different groups. Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews have already taken middle stage, logging heavy ice time as anticipated. In the meantime, the crew’s efficiency provides a glimpse into who’s stepping up and nonetheless discovering their footing.
The Senators technically maintain the primary spot with their 1-0 document, however the Maple Leafs share the two-point tie with 4 different squads. Up to now, what do the early-season ice time statistics present followers of the Blue & White? Aside from Marner, Matthews, and William Nylander, who’s logging heavy minutes.
High Forwards for Ice Time: Marner, Matthews, and Nylander
The highest three forwards in ice time over two regular-season video games for the Maple Leafs is not any shock. Mitch Marner 43:58, Auston Matthews 42:16, and William Nylander 34:52. If anybody was questioning if new Head Coach Craig Berube would reduce Marner and Matthews’ ice time, the reply for now a minimum of is not any.
Final season, Marner averaged 21:17 per sport. After two video games this season, he’s averaging 21:59, 42 seconds greater than final season. Matthews averaged 20:58 in 2023-24 and is at 21:08, ten seconds extra. One fascinating factor is that despite the fact that Nylander was third in ice time for forwards final yr and nonetheless is that this yr, he’s down significantly from 19:55 final season to 17:27 this season. That’s greater than two minutes much less ice time.
Backside of the Ice Time Order: McMann, Reaves, and Kampf
On the backside of the order relating to time on the ice, we’ve Bobby McMann at 10:19 and Ryan Reaves at 7:36. I do know they every performed just one sport. However should you take a look at the individual with the third least quantity of ice time, David Kampf, he has 21:40 over two video games, a median of 10:50 per sport. So, he nonetheless has greater than both McMann or Reaves.
We do must understand that Kampf has 3:58 on the penalty kill, whereas neither McMann nor Reaves have set foot on the ice with the Maple Leafs shorthanded.
If we take a look at even-strength ice time, Kampf and Steven Lorentz have fewer minutes, at 8:44 every, than McMann. One final notable factor with these guys is that Lorentz solely performed 6:31 at even power within the first sport however noticed his even-strength ice time leap to 10:58, a whopping 4:47 enchancment. Lorentz earned the additional ice time and used it properly, as he may need been the best Maple Leafs ahead in sport two.
What Does All This Imply for the Maple Leafs?
Trying on the ice time distribution by means of the primary two video games, it’s clear that Berube isn’t drastically altering how the Maple Leafs’ high stars are utilized. Marner and Matthews are seeing much more ice time than final season, indicating that Berube is leaning on his elite expertise to set the tone for the crew. The 2 elite gamers stay the focal factors, tasked with carrying the offensive load, and that technique appears unlikely to vary anytime quickly.
Nonetheless, there’s an fascinating shift with Nylander. Regardless of being a top-three ahead, his ice time has dropped by over two minutes per sport. This might recommend that Berube is experimenting with new line mixtures or managing Nylander’s function extra fastidiously.
Conversely, gamers like Pontus Holmberg and Lorentz are stepping up in important conditions, particularly on the penalty kill. Berube’s willingness to belief his depth gamers in these essential moments hints at a strategic strategy targeted on versatility and constructing a stronger all-around crew. Because the season progresses, these ice-time tendencies will probably be key to understanding Berube’s long-term imaginative and prescient for the Maple Leafs.
Associated: The Good, Unhealthy, & Ugly within the Maple Leafs’ 4-2 Win Over Devils