Comparing the Elite Forwards on the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Blue Jackets

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 24: Scott Darling

If the NHL does resume, it appears that the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to fight their way to the playoffs with a five game series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

As I wrote the other day, the Toronto Maple Leafs stack up well against the Blue Jackets.

The Leafs – despite injuries, learning a new system, and the worst season of Freddie Andersen’s career – underperformed this year relative to not only expectations, but also relative their team stats.

A deep dive into the Leafs reveals a team that didn’t get the results their play deserved, and with their main problems likely behind them, they figure to be a much better team than the 8th overall they…