Toronto Maple Leafs: Depth Players Producing

The Wingers

Ilya Mikheyev: Not only is Mikheyev new to the Maple Leafs, but he is new to North America. He spent the last four years playing for Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Mikheyev has five points in six games and has a plus/minus rating of +5 with almost 16 minutes of ice time per game. He also has a corsi for percentage (CF%) of 55.6% at even strength. That means that when Mikheyev is on the ice, the team is controlling the puck 55.6% of the time. Mikheyev has shown great speed, good puck control, and even some physicality so far early in the season. The hope is that once Mikheyev becomes more and more comfortable with playing in the National Hockey League (NHL), that his point production will continue to improve.

Trevor Moore: After registering eight points in 25 games last season, Moore already has four points in just six games played. Moore has great speed and the tenacity of a bulldog. For a player who is only five feet-ten inches tall, Moore does not shy away from physicality. Moore fights relentlessly for control of the puck and that shows with his 51.7 CF% rating. Moore is averaging 14:20 minutes in ice time this season and that will not get much lower if he keeps producing.

Dmytro Timashov: As one of the players being rotated in and out of the lineup, Timashov is making the most of his opportunities. He has three points in three games played. Timashov had 49 points with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season. He will most likely return to the Marlies once Zach Hyman returns from injury.

The Centermen

Alexander Kerfoot: During training camp and pre season play, Kerfoot won the roll of third line center. So far, Kerfoot has four points in six games and a plus/minus rating of +3. He also has a CF% rating of 57.5% which shows that him and his linemates Ilya Mikheyev and Trevor Moore are doing a good job controlling the puck.

Frederik Gauthier: After scoring just three goals in 70 games last season, Gauthier has two goals already in six games. He is playing much more of a physical game this season and controls the puck well along the boards. Through the first six games, Gauthier has a faceoff winning percentage of 59.4% which is pretty good. The more faceoffs he wins, the more his line controls the puck.

Jason Spezza: Now in the twilight of his career at age 36, Spezza is not expected to produce a lot of points. His role on this Maple Leafs team is to be a mentor to all the younger players. Spezza has just one point in three games this season, but a very good CF% of 77.4%.

Nick Shore: Just like Spezza, Shore has one point in three games played. Shore was signed in the summer to add depth to the Maple Leafs bottom six. Shore has quietly gone out and done his job when called upon. Like fellow fourth liner Timashov, Shore could be sent down to the Marlies once Hyman returns.

Summary

Through the first six games of this regular season, it is clear that the Maple Leafs bottom six is better than last years group. The Maple Leafs added depth to their bottom six with a mix of players that all add something different. Every player in the bottom six is making less than $1 million except for Kerfoot at $3.5 million. Hopefully the bottom six can continue to produce and can pick up the slack when the top six is struggling.