With the signing of John Tavares, it was an off-season of buzz and excitement for Maple Leafs fans.
Now that the season is here, let’s take a step back to find all the players you should be following on Instagram.
Goalies
Frederik Andersen
Formula One, the US Open, Rogers Cup; you name the event, Fredrik Andersen’s been there and documented it on his Instagram this summer.
Garret Sparks
Most players like showcasing their off-ice activities on social media, but not Garret Sparks.
Sparks is all about posting aesthetic shots of him tending goal. We’ll keep our eyes open for bigger and better pics now that he’s up with the big club.
Defencemen
Travis Dermott
You know how they say that a picture is worth a thousand words?
Travis Dermott’s posts provide that and then some with photos and captions that show off his quirky sense of humour.
Jake Gardiner
His more recent posts might look clean and professional, but scroll down a bit further and you’ll earn more than your fair share of laughs checking out Jake Gardiner’s page, as he goes shopping with Morgan Rielly.
Morgan Rielly
Morgan Rielly’s Instagram does a great job of capturing his personality.
He’s quick to show off his well-developed sense of humour, selfless work in the community and offseason activities with friends.
Justin Holl
Twenty-six-year-old defenceman Justin Holl comes to the Leafs as an AHL champion.
Leafs fans will be hoping Holl can replicate that photo next summer – hopefully with the Stanley Cup this time around.
Forwards
Mitch Marner
There’s no other way to say it – Mitch Marner’s Instagram is a goldmine of humour and personality.
With the infamously strict Lou Lamoriello out as GM, we can only imagine what Marner’s got in store for his followers with more freedom.
William Nylander
Mitch Marner’s not the only Leaf taking advantage of the newfound freedom – William Nylander’s taken the opportunity to grow out both his hair and beard.
If it weren’t for the odd hockey post, you might even mistake Nylander’s account with your average B-list celebrity.
Zach Hyman
On the other side of the spectrum, you’ve got Zach Hyman, who’s about the most modest and wholesome player you’ll see on social media.
Whether it’s storytelling, setting up charity golf tournaments, or working on children’s books, Hyman’s always doing something for others with a smile on his face. Show him some love by stopping by his account.
Kasperi Kapanen
Some are quick to adapt to the NHL lifestyle as adults, while others take more time to grow. If we’re to take Kasperi Kapanen’s Instagram as proof of his maturity, we’re probably looking at someone who falls into the latter.
Regardless, Kapanen’s account is the place to be if you’re in search of a fun loving dude.
Nazem Kadri
Nazem Kadri’s page looks more like a corporate account than any other Leaf.
Instead of posting personal photos such as those from his summer wedding, Kadri’s more or less stuck to Leaf related photos. It’s pretty monotonous, but a genuinely nice change of pace from the playful content coming from some of the youngsters.
Auston Matthews
Auston Matthews might be the leader on the ice, but he’s slacking compared to some of his teammates off of it with his social media game.
It’s pretty impressive to think of all the followers Matthews has accumulated despite refraining from posting anything that draws attention.
Josh Leivo
Everyone’s heard of Josh Leivo’s improved condition, though we shouldn’t be too surprised given what one might have seen earlier on his Instagram.
Par Lindholm
Offseason signing Par Lindholm seems to be loving his first taste of Canada.
Things look optimistic for now, but just wait until the torrential downpour begins.
Andreas Johnsson
If you didn’t know he was a hockey player, you might just mistake Andreas Johnsson for a male model.
Johnsson’s other photos show off his personality too, so he’s certainly with your time.
Connor Brown
Connor Brown doesn’t post much on Instagram nowadays, but chances are you’ll be greeted with a gem when he does get something up.
Frederik Gauthier
It’s mind-boggling to think that Frederik Gauthier has less than 2,000 Instagram followers despite being an NHL player, a regular Instagram user and having a dog that melts hearts. Make things right by dropping him a follow.