Midseason Grades for Each Line on the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again confounding their loyal fans. They are five points out of a playoff spot with the Florida Panthers now occupying the No. 9 spot, just ahead of the Leafs, in the Eastern Conference.

The Leafs have looked spirited and great on some nights. On others, lousy and listless, at best.

It cost Randy Carlyle his job, but it now appears that Peter Horachek is equally challenged to motivate this high-scoring group. 

Let's take a look at the midseason grades for each line on the Maple Leafs.

Fourth Line

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Midseason Grade: B

Depth has not been a huge issue for the Leafs. All teams would like their bottom-six forwards to do more than just hang on and the Leafs have had that.

Having non-factor players on this line is no longer an issue. Most of the players who have played fourth-line minutes including Peter Holland, David Booth, Richard Panik and Trevor Smith have been physical, difficult to play against and chipped in offensively.

Holland and Panik have combined for 24 points and would be regular third-line players on some weaker teams. Most of these players are holding their own in the plus/minus department, which is one of the main criterion in this role.

Third Line

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Midseason Grade: B+

The Leafs have had some very strong play from their third line. A number of players have contributed on this line, but the main, go-to guys have been Leo Komarov, David Clarkson, Mike Santorelli and Daniel Winnik.

The third line has often been the steadiest of all three Leafs lines. When healthy, Leo Komarov has been outstanding. He's played physical, defensive-minded hockey at a high speed. He's got 18 points in just 29 games.

Mike Santorelli has also been dynamite in a third-line role and elsewhere. He's plus-eight in 44 games while posting 25 points. Winnik has been honest in his play and leads the team in plus/minus at plus-14. He always seems to be on the right side of the puck.

David Clarkson has nine goals, which has him on pace for approaching 20 over a full season. While most fans hate his contract, he's been a difference-maker on several nights.

He's well suited to a third-line role.

Second Line

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Midseason Grade: C+

The Leafs' second line has been spectacular on some nights. Conversely, there have been nights where the group has failed to match the third line in production or intensity.

Nazem Kadri has been a constant on this line. Tyler Bozak has played here as well. Joffrey Lupul, Mike Santorelli and Daniel Winnik have also played second-line minutes.

Kadri and Lupul have had good chemistry when Lupul's been healthy. Winnik, as mentioned earlier, has also had a strong season at both ends of the rink.

Consistency has been an issue here though. Too many nights, this line has not provided the offensive support the team has needed when the top line isn't producing.

Kadri has certainly picked up his defensive game. He's developed into a very good top-six forward who appears to be on the cusp of being a steady producer at the NHL level in a top-six role.

Good on some nights, mediocre more often than not, has been this line's ongoing issue.

First Line

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Midseason Grade: B

Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk have already topped 40 points. They've been offensive juggernauts and carried the team on most nights—at least offensively.

Tyler Bozak continues to be a question mark as a bona fide top centre. He doesn't seem to have the top-end skill of most first-line centres, nor the physical gifts to dominate along the wall. Nazem Kadri has had some minutes on this line and has not looked out of place.

It's no mystery that the main issue with this line is the ability to play responsible, two-way hockey. No one expects Selke-like play from any of them, but there are times when the effort in the defensive zone can be questioned.

The Kessel, JVR and Bozak trio are a combined minus-22. That's not good enough for a team that can score like this one does. This line spends far too much in its own zone.

If this line doesn't develop a bigger defensive conscience, it's going to be a challenge for the Leafs to be a playoff team this spring.

All stats can be found on NHL.com unless noted otherwise.