Toronto Maple Leafs Have Some Decisions to Make
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.
Trade, free agency, offer sheet or continue to develop within?
Ideas range from an offer-sheet for Colton Parayko, to signing free agents Carl Alzner, Yannick Rathgeb, Kevin Shattenkirk, or Cody Franson.
Trade options include Josh Manson, Sami Vatanen and Chris Tanev among others. Matt Dumba and Jonas Brodin of the Wild have also been suggested as good fits.
Including Connor Brown in any trade to acquire one of the above?
That’s an emphatic ‘NO’ from me.
Forty years of failure has taught fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs many HARD lessons. Unfortunately, it also seems the long line of Maple Leafs GM’s ignore history.
- First of all, trading young roster players to plug holes in the line-up, DOES NOT WORK!
- Furthermore trading draft picks for quick roster fixes, DOES NOT WORK EITHER!
- Finally, to fill a precise need at a specific time of the season, will work (Brian Boyle)
- Luckily for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brendan Shanahan studies the game of hockey, he understands.
Though the Leafs farm system is lacking a centre that can step up and help the team immediately, (thanks a lot Jake Dotchin), the signings of Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman have added high-end talent to the defensive prospect pool.
Who Faces off as our fourth line centre?
During the next three weeks, the Toronto Maple Leafs will pursue all options to upgrade the line-up. Furthermore, those changes will happen through player acquisition, the draft and prospect development. Shanahan’s goal is to set up the Leafs as a perennial Stanley Cup contender.
Brian Boyle, Dominic Moore, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are a few of the options available. Whoever management zeros in on, will sign post expansion forgoing the need for protection in the expansion draft.
The Leafs have internal options as well. William Nylander played his first 20 NHL games at centre. Lining up for the 2017/18 season between Marner and JVR will make for an extremely dangerous threesome.
As a rookie (first 20 or so games, the year before last) he (Nylander) was a playing centre in the NHL and posting positive possession numbers on a last place team. 53% is good for anyone. For a rookie playing on a last place team, it’s down-right amazing. James Tanner
Kapanen Slides in Seamlessly
Kapanen will take Nylander’s spot on the top line. The playoffs showcased his confidence and a skill set which will translate well on Matthews’ wing. It appears the Leafs got a big game player as part of the return for Phil Kessel. There are scorers, then there are players who elevate their games when the stakes are the highest.
During Kapanen’s hockey career, he has shown the ability to score when the stakes are highest.
In nearly every trade proposal, I find Kapanen thrown in as an afterthought. When your team finds a “big game player” you do not trade that asset.
Tyler Bozak is not a 4th line centre. Nevertheless, unless traded he has one year remaining on his contract. Last season he was the 7th best face-off man in the league and we know the importance Babcock places on face-offs. With less offensive responsibility, Bozak can focus on his defensive game while establishing a line that is difficult to play against.
If the Shoe Fits, Wear it.
In an April interview, General Manager Lou Lamoriello acknowledges that the Toronto Maple Leafs roster needs improvements
Lou Lamoriello: I think it’s obvious that there are certain areas we need [to improve]. But I think the most important part is, overall, you have to get better. I think that you have to be extremely careful when you have a year like this, coming from the year before, as far as you might think it’s okay. This is a tough league. You look at the teams prior to the season starting that were expecting to be in certain places and what transpires. You look at where Toronto was expected to be. You never know. A lot happens there in the summer as far as preparation. I think that’s the most important thing. Each and every one of our players right now has to do what is necessary for them to be better next year. And then it’s our job to fill into the areas where we feel that we have to add. Getting better within is more important right now. maple leafs hot stove
One More Goal.
Unless your team is playing in the Stanley Cup finals, June is the second most exciting month of the NHL season.
Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be assured that Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas will carry out decisions in the best interest of the team. The Toronto Maple Leafs are on their way to contending for a long time. It is doubtful management succumbs to pressure for the sake of appeasing the fans or media.
This month will be an exciting time in Leafs land.
Brendan Shanahan scored 656 goals in his career. He has one more goal in mind, to restore the Toronto Maple Leafs to their earlier glory, and win the Stanley Cup!
all stats :hockeydb.com