A Maple Leafs’ Surprising Five-Man Combination

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A Maple Leafs’ Surprising Five-Man Combination

Originally posted on Professor Press Box | Last updated Oct 26, 2026 1:11 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ five-man group of Kirill Marchenko, Auston Matthews, Gavin McKenna, William Nylander and Darren Raddysh ranks second on the chart below, with a Goals-For (GF) figure of 0.78 and an average of 2:03 minutes together per game. That’s an eye-catching number—and naturally, it may leave Maple Leafs fans wondering whether the team has stumbled onto a combination worth building around.

Very limited time on the ice, but an interesting snapshot of Maple Leafs possibility.

The intriguing part is the contrast between the group’s high ranking and its limited time together. The chart suggests the five have been involved in goals when sharing the ice, despite averaging just over two minutes per game as a unit. That could point to an effective deployment, a productive special-teams look, or simply a combination that has made the most of a small opportunity.

But the chart doesn’t explain what “GF” measures, where these minutes come from, or how many games and total minutes the figure represents. Without that context, it’s difficult to say exactly what the number captures.

Scoring doesn’t mean the five-man Maple Leafs combination is controlling the play.

There’s also a difference between scoring and controlling a game. The chart shows a goals-for figure, but not goals against, shots, expected goals, or the quality of the opposition. A group can post an impressive scoring number while still giving up chances; equally, a handful of goals in limited minutes can make a combination look exceptional. The result is interesting, but it isn’t enough on its own to conclude that this is one of Toronto’s best or most sustainable units.

Other Canadian teams add some perspective. Calgary’s group ranks fourth at 0.54, Vancouver’s sixth at 0.47, Edmonton’s seventh at 0.45, and Ottawa’s eighth at 0.44. Toronto’s number is higher, but this chart doesn’t establish that the Leafs’ group is substantially better. The Florida unit at the top, with 0.88, is another reminder that these rankings are snapshots—not definitive team-strength ratings.

Is this Maple Leafs stat more curious than meaningful?

For Maple Leafs fans, the sensible takeaway is cautious optimism: this is a combination to keep an eye on, not a reason to expect a major lineup change or declare that Toronto has found a secret weapon. If the group continues to produce over more minutes—and the underlying chance and defensive numbers are solid—the chart could become an early sign of a genuine trend. For now, it’s a curious stat worth asking questions about, rather than a conclusion.

This article first appeared on Professor Press Box and was syndicated with permission.

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