In a surprising move by Leafs management earlier this month, defenceman Frank Corrado was placed on waivers while the Leafs claimed Alexey Marchenko from the Detroit Red Wings.
Nothing was wrong with Frank Corrado. Many fans and analysts were pushing for his start in the lineup which had been denied all season long. But it was apparent that his talents weren’t needed on a regular basis by the Leafs. Enter Alexey Marchenko.
Alexey Marchenko has been added to the Leafs lineup to highly positive acclaim. He has a lot of upside. He seems to be doing many things right, and he may be the perfect fit for the Leafs going forward.
Detroit’s Loss
Drafted 205th overall in 2011 by the Detroit Red Wings, Marchenko had a long journey to the NHL from the KHL.
Marchenko got a short 13 game stint with the Red Wings in 2012-13 when he scored one goal and an assist. His play was considerable, but one thing to note during this stint was that he was coached by none other than Mike Babcock before Babs came to Toronto.
When he finally got his opportunity at a full NHL season in 2015-16, he made quite a good impression both defensively and offensively, scoring two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 66 games.
This season, Marchenko skated in 30 games with the Red Wings. Although his offence has slowed down (zero goals, six assists) his defensive efforts were still apparent, as he was a +6 player on a Red Wings team that is averaging 2.97 goals against. He also averaged a decent 17:58 of ice time during this stint.
When Detroit decided to waive Marchenko, the Leafs immediately saw an opportunity to replace the long-sitting Corrado with someone who has the potential to become a better right handed defenceman.
Although Marchenko is two years older than Corrado, he still fits in well into the targeted age group during this rebuild. Marchenko did not immediately get to play but it was just a matter of time until he got his call up.
Matchmaking
As Maple Leafs defenceman Connor Carrick suffered an injury last week, Marchenko’s opportunity with the Leafs finally came. Marchenko suited up for his Maple Leafs debut on Thursday night against the Rangers, and he found himself paired with Jake Gardiner.
Now Jake Gardiner has been paired with a few different people this season. The age-old Rielly-Gardiner pairing has worked out in the past, and playing alongside Connor Carrick this season has also payed dividends for the team. Marchenko, however, offers a play style that seems to really compliment Jake Gardiner, and it could be quite a match.
Gardiner’s Perfect Match
At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Marchenko brings a good size to the table. He skates well, he’s smart with the puck, and most of all his passing is great. His offensive game might not be the most impressive, but that’s because his main job is to generate plays and get the puck to the forwards. He has done this exceptionally well.
Great night by Alexey Marchenko who was on the ice for both Toronto goals +2 at 17:40 time on ice. Excellent addition - Toronto Maple Leafs pic.twitter.com/vbCOPDukBK
— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@HockeyAgent1) February 26, 2017
Don’t believe me yet? Another interesting stat that’s been recorded for Marchenko so far is that he’s been on the ice for every goal scored for the Leafs in his two games, and has not been on the ice for any goal against. Yup, that’s right. He’s been a part of all three of the Leafs goals and none of their five goals against. I mean, I know it’s only been two games, but it definitely shows how involved he is with his play. He generates scoring chances while staying back defensively.
This stat especially has a lot to do with his pairing with Gardiner. Gardiner has a lot of offensive skill that is starting to become apparent which needs space to blossom. Marchenko is a great stay-at-home defenceman who can allow Gardiner to get more involved while holding the blue line.
Judging by what we’ve seen so far, the pair can be great for generating offence going forward. He might just be the perfect match for Jake Gardiner.
Trade Bait
Now here’s where the fun begins. The Leafs have already dipped their toes into trade waters by acquiring Brian Boyle from the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday. There may still be more trades coming, and Marchenko’s presence only helps fuel the speculations.
Two players who are most likely on the Leafs trade block are Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak. They are both third pairing defencemen with expiring contracts who have not been playing that well this season. With the Leafs eyeing a playoff spot, it opens the question of who would replace them if they got traded.
Well now Alexey Marchenko answers that question. Once Carrick returns, Marchenko could easily replace one of Hunwick or Polak. Alexey Marchenko could keep playing with Gardiner and Carrick could perhaps be switched to the third pairing.
If both are traded, all the better, as Frank Corrado and Martin Marincin are still available for the Leafs. In my honest opinion, Alexey Marchenko would be a sizeable upgrade from Hunwick or Polak. This just opens more opportunities for the Leafs heading into the trade deadline.
So let me know what you think about Marchenko and his recent play in the comments. Also feel free to let me know on my Twitter: @Matt_Rodrigo_