Toronto's rookies producing points at unprecedented level
The kids are more than alright. Try exceptional.
The Toronto Maple Leafs rookies have produced the most offense of any club's first-year group this season.
Following their 37th game of the campaign Tuesday - a 6-5 loss in Washington - Maple Leafs' rookies have been involved in 91 of the team's 112 goals, an astounding 81 percent.
The caveat to the impressive statistic is the Leafs boast more rookies than any other team, as eight skaters have suited up and recorded a point for Mike Babcock this season.
Either way, the breakdown is eye-opening:
| Player | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auston Matthews | 20 | 14 | 34 |
| Mitch Marner | 10 | 19 | 29 |
| William Nylander | 8 | 18 | 26 |
| Connor Brown | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| Zach Hyman | 5 | 12 | 17 |
| Nikita Zaitsev | 1 | 14 | 16 |
| Nikita Soshnikov | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Frederik Gauthier | 2 | 1 | 3 |
That's a grand total of 145 points, which is more than the next three teams' first-year outputs - the Jets (48), Rangers (45), and Blue Jackets (41) - combined.
It's safe to say the youth movement is working.