Toronto Maple Leafs: The New Leo Komarov is Carl Grundstrom
The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have chosen well when they selected Carl Grundstrom in the second round of the 2016 NHL draft.
Grundstrom had a good season in Sweden and most recently in the AHL. Watching him play reminds me of another member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Leo Komarov.
The red-headed Swede plays a very competitive game, just like Komarov. Grundstrom is relentless on the forecheck, strong on his skates, constantly in the thick of things and gets in traffic. He’s not the most skilled player, but he has decent hands and can produce by out-working opposing players.
Grundstrom isn’t a pest like Komarov is. Like Komarov however, his battles for loose pucks in the corners and near the net annoy the other team. A lot.
It’s here that we get to the topic at hand. It appears as though Grundstrom is developing to take over for Komarov in a year or two.
The Cap
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We all know the big contracts Willaim Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will be getting over the next two years. There’s no reason to think the Leafs will have a problem fitting the three under the salary cap, but every bit of space helps.
Komarov’s current $2.95 million cap hit just so happens to expire at the end of next year.
He will be 31 by the team his contract is up and is one of the better defensive forwards in the NHL. The Leafs have to determine whether Komarov will return on a cap friendly deal or to move on from him. This is where Grundstrom comes into play.
By the end of next season, he will have played three years of pro hockey. It will be apparent by then if he’s ready for the NHL and his current track-record suggests he will be.
Conclusion
If the Leafs walk away from Komarov, Grundstrom will fit right into the lineup. Komarov’s solid defensive play and tough minutes may be hard to replace right away. Given Grundstrom’s higher skill level, tenacity and ability to read the play, it isn’t unreasonable to think he could in time. He plays both special teams, too.
I expect he’ll be able to out-produce Komarov offensively rather quickly due to having some more skill and being a decade younger. That could also help offset the potential growing pains of acclimating defensively to the NHL. Let’s not forget that the other young forwards on the team will also be improving at both ends of the ice.
This looks like a pretty good gamble to make with a player on an entry level deal if Komarov leaves. If he doesn’t, is anybody going to be unhappy that we have two shift-disturbers like this?
It would be really fun to watch and I am looking forward to finding out the answer.