Toronto Maple Leafs: An Accelerated Rebuild?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have embraced a rebuild – that’s not new information – but how long do they really intend on rebuilding for?

There has been conflicting thoughts on how long the Toronto Maple Leafs rebuild will actually be after the hiring of Mike Babcock and Lou Lamoriello. USA Today’s decorated columnist, Kevin Allen, had this to say in a recent post regarding a multiple-year rebuilding process for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“However, it is difficult to believe that either Babcock or Lamoriello expects it to take that long. These guys are too proud, too effective and they hate losing too much to accept the notion that this needs to be a five-year plan. Clearly the Maple Leafs aren’t going to win the Stanley Cup during the next two seasons, but no one who knows Lamoriello’s or Babcock’s history would be surprised if the Maple Leafs are competing for a playoff spot in 2016-17.” (Kevin Allen, USA Today)

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Will it really be that soon? The 2016-2017 season is only one year away – those are pretty lofty claims be dished out.

When everyone thinks rebuild, myself included, they envision an extended, painful, process full of exciting disappointment that leads to future success. That’s the dream; that’s what fans hope for.

The Edmonton Oilers have been rebuilding for, well, we don’t need to go into how long, but you get my point. Every rebuild is different. Is it that ludicrous to think the Toronto Maple Leafs could actually turn things around so quickly? Perhaps, but they’ve done a pretty good job of identifying talent that isn’t 18 years old.

Everyone focuses on the long process, the 2015 draft class and what moves they’ve made. What fails to emerge is the age and development of the players they’ve acquired along the way.

Kasperi Kapanen is a player with two years of pro hockey under his belt – and we’ve seen what the pro transition for William Nylander has done. Scott Harrington is a solid defensive prospect drafted in 2011. Casey Bailey, Zach Hyman and Nikita Soshnikov are all players who have had extra time to develop.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added several players to the organization that are already several stages up in the development process than if they were drafting their own personnel from day one. The 2015 draft class has high expectations down the road, but they are being accompanied by a solid group of young players that have already turned some heads.

Is it realistic to see Nylander, Brown, Kapanen, Harrington and Marner suiting up in 2016-2017? Absolutely. Is it realistic to think that the Toronto Maple Leafs could make additional moves or signings to better the team in the meantime? Absolutely.

Will they be a playoff contender like Kevin Allen suggests? It’s a possibility – anything is possible – but even if they’re not, there’s a legitimate argument that this rebuild won’t take the consensus five years.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have some fantastic pieces that are in the system right now – which is something that couldn’t be said for several years. This is the first year of the rebuild and, normally, you’re starting from scratch, but with the players that the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired that isn’t truly the case.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are ahead of the game in the rebuild, and there’s nothing wrong with that – and they haven’t hindered the process by acquiring who they’ve acquired.

A rebuild takes time, surely, but how much time is dependent on the moves the front office makes – whether they hurt, are neutral or positively enhance the process.

With the group of young players – and the potential players that will be added after a, seemingly, forgettable 2015-2016, I wouldn’t be upset with the Toronto Maple Leafs pushing for a playoff spot in 2016-2017. Tanking for several years is necessary if you start with nothing, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are starting with a good group of somethings.

Next: Leafs Rebuild: Health A Silent Key