The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few issues on their hands. Despite boasting young guns like Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the team is at risk of being too old and too slow. Adding insult to injury is the uncertainty surrounding Joseph Woll, which may force them to trade for a replacement.
However, an early bright spot has been a forward long thought to be on his way out of Toronto. Calle Jarnkrok has worked himself out of the trade block conversation as one of the most consistent players on the team so far this season.
Calle Jarnkrok at the Top of Maple Leafs Scoring Leaders
In a twist that no one in Toronto saw coming, Jarnkrok is one of the most productive players this year. He has all of the tools that make a depth player effective, and now the results are following suit.
While he might not score 82 goals this year, his stats to date are worth highlighting.
Among Maple Leafs forwards, he is near the top of every offensive category. He is first in goals (3), third in points (3), and seventh in shots (5). What is most surprising is that Jarnkrok is averaging only 10:31 per game. Every other Maple Leafs player with the same (or more) points plays nearly double the ice time that he does.
According to Frozen Tools, Jarnkrok has spent the majority of his ice time on a line with at least one of Nic Roy, Steven Lorentz, and Dakota Joshua. It’s not a stretch to say those players aren’t offensively minded.
The grain of salt to take with these stats is Jarnkrok’s whopping 60 shooting percentage. This will not continue for the rest of the season. Over his career, he owns a 12.5 shooting percentage.
Jarnkrok Has Gone From the Trade Block to No-Trade
GettyHas this Toronto Maple Leafs’ player done enough to be moved off the trade block?
The first offseason report that had him on the trade block was from The Fourth Period. David Pagnotta listed him at number eight on his Summer Trade Board.
“As the Leafs try to shed salary and create roster space for other moves, Jarnkrok joins Kampf and Robertson on the Summer Trade Watch List,” Pagnotta wrote in July. “He has a $2.1M cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The market hasn’t been vibrant, to this point, but the Leafs will continue to dangle him.”
All three of Nick Robertson, David Kampf, and Jarnkrok are still in the Maple Leafs organization. Kampf was waived and is now playing in the AHL, while Robertson and Jarnkrok get an opportunity to play well enough to stick around.
Fast forward to the end of September, and things were back on track in that direction.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again dangling some of their depth forwards and have spoken with some teams about the likes of Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf, and Nick Robertson, according to separate sources,” Pagnotta wrote before the regular season began. “All three players were shopped during the off-season, but Leafs GM Brad Treliving has not yet found an offer he has deemed acceptable.”
“The Leafs are believed to be looking for draft pick compensation in exchange for any of their available forwards.”
Regardless of Jarnkrok’s long-term fit with the Maple Leafs, it’s safe to say they like what they are seeing right now. The focus for this team is winning games and making the playoffs. If Jarnkrok is helping them win now, there’s no reason to send him elsewhere.
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