What will the Toronto Maple Leafs do in the Next Three Weeks?
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.
While fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs revel over the teams most successful season in a decade, pressing questions continue for next season. The consensus of fans and media alike is, the Maple Leafs have three essential weaknesses/needs.
- An upgrade at 4th line centre from Ben Smith or Frederick Gauthier…
- Upgrade the blue-line; adding a top two, right-handed minute muncher. Easier said than done as 30 other teams are seeking the same help on the back-end.
- Acquire a back-up goalie who can start 25-35 games while winning 15-20. *These issues have been addressed here…and and here
Andrew Boehmer’s ongoing series in which he discusses the Leafs best options for defensive help is definitely worth a read.
Due to the depth of high-end wingers in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, trade proposals are popping up everywhere. My opinion is, trading any piece of the young core before they develop is a mistake (Alex Steen). The need to upgrade the defense is obvious, but NOT at the cost of the core.
Few teams match the talent which the Leafs have assembled in their forward group. The last NHL team which iced this many talented young players in one season was the 1981/82 Oilers who won 5 Stanley Cups in the following nine years.
Brendan Shanahan is building a puck possessing, high-powered offensive monster that will score the opposition into submission.