The Leafs‘ eighth overall draft selection in 2014 was first named the rookie of the month after posting 11 points in October. At the time, he was the first Leaf skater to receive rookie of the month honours since Steve Sullivan, who won it following an 11-point month (14 games) during the 1996-97 season. Goaltender James Reimer was awarded rookie of the month when he first broke the league in 2012.
Since then, Auston Matthews was named the rookie of the month in December and Mitch Marner was given the nod in January. All told, Leafs rookies won the honour in four of the season’s seven months in 2016-17.