As the season wears on for the Maple Leafs, that savvy and mentorship continues to come at a considerable cost. Leafs forward Patrick Marleau is on pace for 41 points, which would be his lowest total in a full season since 1999-2000. Sure, it was one of the team’s lamest performances of the season, and Marleau and Hainsey were notably poor. But blame ought to be apportioned, too, to the vagaries of an 82-game season that’s too long and lacks grand-scheme significance. Babcock can only hope Hainsey and Marleau actually have something better stored up.

Source: thestar February 17, 2019 23:03 UTC