Leafs Notebook: Michael Bunting’s declining stock in a contract year, the playoff defense pairings, and encouraging signs from the power play down the stretch

Here’s the breakdown by season:

• 2022: 14.3 percent
• 2021: 13 percent
• 2020: 15.4 percent

That’s ugly.

Every year, the signs have been there down the stretch. While the Leafs have had strong power plays over the course of each regular season with Sheldon Keefe in charge, the production has dropped off significantly in roughly the final month leading up to the playoffs, and the Leafs have been stuck in that rut through to the playoffs.

Here’s how they have ended the final month or so of every regular season under Keefe:

• April 2022: 17.