TORONTO — For the Toronto Maple Leafs, the year 2018 was filled with scrutinized signings, significant front-office turnover, broken records, and some spectacular singular moments.
Here are the 18 moments we’ll remember from a wild 365 days covering one of the most exciting, news-making franchises in sports.
18. Kapanen shows off speed, spins, snipes with shorthanded beauty
Kasperi Kapanen, the only significant piece yielded from the Phil Kessel trade, patiently waited for his NHL promotion and finally arrived ready to stick. A speedy, skillsy penalty killer, Kapanen turned heads with this incredible solo effort with a man down on Feb. 7 versus the mighty Predators.
17. The Johnsson hat trick that probably got Ron Hextall fired
Auston Matthews’s monthlong injury required improved performances from the supporting cast in November, and they delivered in spades. On Nov. 24, a slow-starting Andreas Johnsson stole the spotlight from fellow third-line left wing James van Riemsdyk on the latter’s return night by scoring thrice in the first period. The fastest Leafs hatty in 42 years (Lanny McDonald, 1976) served as a last straw for the porous Flyers, who promptly fired GM Ron Hextall.
“It kinda felt unreal. It’s hard to explain,” Johnsson said. “Y’know, I had first goal, then second goal and all of a sudden third one. Like, what’s going on?”
16. Andersen puts on a ridiculous 54-save performance
The Columbus Blue Jackets had made it a mission: throw anything and everything at the net. So, on Valentine’s Day, netminder Frederik Andersen was required to stop a career-high 54 pucks to steal victory like he has the hearts of Leafs fans, who show their appreciation with frequent “Fred-die!” chants and standing ovations. Considered by many teammates to be the club MVP, the hardworking Andersen was relied upon 14 times in 2018 to make at least 38 stops to secure a W, masking many a defensive flaw.
15. Leafs wear all-white everything
The result was abysmal (a 5-2 Capitals victory) and Matthews (shoulder) was absent for a prime-time U.S. broadcast, but the uniforms were purely spectacular and spectacularly pure. In a nod to the Navy, the Maple Leafs sported bleach-white sweaters, socks, helmets, gloves and pants for their March 3 Stadium Series game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and out-whited the ice surface. The unique unis, Nazem Kadri noted, are not the only pair of white pants he owns.
14. Dermott, Holl score first goals on same night
On the last day of January, Travis Dermott scored his first NHL goal. His father, Jim, was in the stands that night and couldn’t help but well up as a screen grab of Dermott’s face after seeing the puck go in — unfiltered joy — went viral.
Adding to the occasion, Dermott’s AHL defence partner, Justin Holl, also scored that night, his NHL debut, and again the following game, in New York City, with his father, Gerry, in attendance. A good week for Marlies call-ups.
13. Breaking: California now dreamy
Indicative of the 2018-19 Maple Leafs’ incredible road record and an NHL-wide power shift from the Pacific to the Atlantic, Toronto not only survived the typically treacherous annual three-game California trip but went a perfect 3-0 visiting L.A., San Jose and Anaheim in November, defeating the former juggernauts by a combined score of 12–4 and sweeping the state for the first time in 23 (!) years.
Being back home this week has made our hearts full. pic.twitter.com/GL4tfxXbBp
— Christina Marleau (@c_marleau) November 16, 2018
12. Mild-mannered Andersen calls out lack of effort
The scolding came from the unlikeliest source. Following a lead-squandering 3-2 overtime loss in Philadelphia in the dog days of mid-January, soft-spoken goaltender Frederik Andersen called out the players in front of him for letting their foot off the gas and letting complacency seep in.
“We’ve got to figure out who wants to commit to playing for the team,” Andersen said, pointedly. A rare bit of vocal criticism from the team with no captain.
11. Kadri rips off a chunk of ol’ Jumbo’s beard
“I thought I was a hockey player, not a barber,” Nazem Kadri quipped after he’d ripped off a swatch of legendary Joe Thornton’s legendary beard during a surprise opening-draw fight on Jan. 4.
The bizarre incident would leave the Sharks with sore feelings, as San Jose was preoccupied with Kadri during the teams’ following meeting in the fall, but it’s hard not to see humour in the scene.
“That was messy,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer chuckled postgame. “I’ve seen a lot of things over 25 years of coaching. I’ve never seen a clump of beard on the ice before.”
10. Breaking all of the records
Serving as both cause for celebration and a reminder of how long the Maple Leafs have been bad at hockey, Toronto set a collection of franchise records in Game 82 of the 2017-18 season. Despite finishing third in their top-heavy division, in thumping the disappointing Montreal Canadiens, the thrilling Leafs set new marks for most points in a season (105), most wins (49), and most home wins (29, including a record 13-game home victory streak). Andersen also set a Leafs goaltending record with his 38th victory of the campaign.
9. Matthews, Kane put entertainment first
Two of the most skilled Americans to ever pick up a hockey stick, Matthews and Patrick Kane, exchanged highlight-reel goals and emotional, taunting “Can you hear it?” celebrations in Oct. 7’s 7-6 seesaw affair that packed more excitement and scoring than any early-season game should.
“I didn’t really like [his celebration] at first,” Kane told Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. “I know it’s an emotional game out there, but I didn’t really like him doing that. Even the ref was saying maybe he could have called an unsportsmanlike on that or whatever…. When we scored to tie it up, I was happy to kind of give it back to him. We kind of smirked at each other on the bench after that…. Just a heat-of-the-moment type of thing, you know?”
8. Will Arnett bears witness to Marner’s five-point outburst
“We were all pulling for him to get [the hat trick], but I think five points in one game is fine, too,” Matthews deadpanned after pal Mitch Marner pulled a half-Sittler, exploding for 2-3-5 on Feb. 10 versus the tumbling Senators.
With a Hockey Night in Canada towel draped over his shoulders, Marner, the club’s resident movie junkie, then had his post-game interview interrupted. Actor Will Arnett made a point to congratulate Marner on his career night.
“That was so rad,” Arnett said. “Big fan, man.” Gob well done.
7. Marleau goes full Any Given Saturday
Learning lessons the hard way and quickly gaining a reputation as an entertaining group with a penchant for blowing leads, the Leafs scored first only to fall behind 3-1 to the Sens in Ottawa on Jan. 20. Patrick Marleau, whose voice seldom raises above a whisper, stood up to address the room in the second intermission, and his speech sparked a comeback.
“The message was, ‘Enough is enough,’” said Connor Carrick, fresh off firing the 4–3 winner. “There was a sense of urgency in the third. A bite, a hunger. It’s hard to identify, but you know what it is when you see it.”
As part of that rally, Marner recreated the exact goal used in EA Sports’ NHL 18 trailer, toe-dragging Craig Anderson out of his jock:
6. Nylander, Maple Leafs avoid crash in game of contractual chicken
If you’ve got time, (ab)use it. As Leafs Nation, along with its corresponding nation of haters, anxiously refreshed its collective Twitter feed in the minutes winding down to RFA William Nylander’s deadline of Dec. 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET, the team and its hard-bargain-driving sniper waited until the very final hour to sign off on an extremely front-loaded six-year, $41.77-million pact — and threw in a promise not to trade. Two down, two to go.
Never in doubt, Ry.
— Kyle Dubas (@kyledubas) December 1, 2018
5. Matthews makes certain it’s a good goal
After having a presumably legitimate goal erased by an iffy goaltender interference call on Jan. 23 versus Colorado, Matthews rolled his eyes, then scored on his very next shift. As the horn blared, he spun ’round and forcefully pointed at the puck in the net, guiding referee Gord Dwyer’s eyes to the cold, black evidence.
“I just made sure the puck was in this time,” said Matthews, who would later call the goal his favourite of the year. “Yeah, I was pretty excited about that one.”
Matthews and pal Jack Eichel would recreate the defiant celebration to hilarious results during the All-Star Game a week later.
4. Marlies win Calder Cup
While the big club came up short in its Game 7, the farm team left no doubt in its ultimate playoff game, steamrolling the Texas Stars 6-1. In seizing the AHL crown and first Toronto professional hockey championship in 51 years, the dominant 2017-18 Marlies graduated a GM and a handful of players — Johnsson, Dermott, Holl, Frederik Gauthier and Garret Sparks — to the big time.
3. Dubas takes the throne from a Hall of Famer
At the tender age of 33, Kyle Dubas won the GM role from the decorated and respected Lou Lamoriello, who had only just overseen the most productive regular season in the Maple Leafs’ 101-year history. With Lamoriello moving on to New York, Dubas proceeded to swipe his mentor’s captain and best player. He then set about making his organization younger, faster and (hurray) more female, hiring Hayley Wickenheiser and Noelle Needham, drafting skilly Soo defenceman Rasmus Sandin, shedding veterans van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov and Matt Martin, and vowing to sign his young studs long term.
2. Maple Leafs push Bruins to the brink
Blame Kadri’s overzealous suspension-worthy hit. Blame Andersen’s post-season inconsistencies. Blame Jake Gardiner (which is what Jake Gardiner did) going dash-5 in the biggest game of his life. Blame the rumoured rift between a head coach and a superstar. Yes, the Maple Leafs let a Game 7 third-period lead slip away in Boston, again. But don’t forget that inexperienced Toronto showed great resolve in digging out of its 3–1 series deficit and pushed the rivalry to the max.
1. Tavares picks Toronto
After carefully, methodically interviewing six teams for his services, John Tavares — the most coveted unrestricted free agent of the salary-cap era — decided to come home. Enticed by a Mitch Marner sizzle reel and the knowledge that true contenders need two No. 1 centres (and a No. 1 goalie), J.T. left the Island amidst a sea of emotions.
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