Yesterday I wrote about how the Toronto Maple Leafs should pursue Kevin Shattenkirk.
Though it seems many people have made up their mind, the stats show Shattenkirk as elite, and the Toronto Maple Leafs cap situation demands they go for it now. People are going to have their opinions, but it’s clear those opinions don’t take into account how good Shattenkirk actually is, or they don’t realize how rare the Leafs ability to exploit the cap is.
It’s a no-brainer to sign him. The only reasonable objection to the move is overcome by realizing that the Leafs once got out of Dion Phaneuf’s contract.
But all that changes if what TSN wrote yesterday was true.
TSN is doing a series on the Expansion Draft and projecting who each team will leave available. According to their projections, the Minnesota Wild will protect Matt Dumba, Ryan Suter (NMC) and Jonas Brodin.
This is insane, but there it is, on paper, coming from one of the best and most reputable hockey sources in the world.
Jared Spurgeon and the Toronto Maple Leafs
Now let’s just assume this article – which is credited to TSN Staff – was written my someone who knows what they’re talking about. If true, WOW.
Jared Spurgeon is one of the best players in the NHL. He is an ELITE defensman, and arguably one of the ten best defenseman in the NHL.
Last year he scored 38 points. He is 27 years-old. He shoots right.
He had a 51% possession rating. Most players he played with had worse possession ratings when they were on the ice without Spurgeon.
26 of his points – more than Shattenkirk, more than Gardiner – came at even-strength. Though his partner Ryan Suter has the bigger name, Spurgeon is the superior player at this point in their careers. He is massively underrated.
I honestly can’t see a how the Wild would leave their best player unprotected, but if that is there plan, the Toronto Maple Leafs have to make a move.
Jared Spurgeon is small, but effective. He’d give the Leafs one of the most interesting, talented puck-moving bluelines in the NHL.
Yes, he’s small. He doesn’t make big hits. But he’s undoubtedly effective. The Toronto Maple Leafs have shown a willingness to move beyond the traditional hockey dogma of how to build a team and have seemingly been one of the teams who have embraced analytics.
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If the Wild would leave Spurgeon unprotected, then his asking price might even be reasonable. Who knows, if the Wild are this dumb, maybe Niederreiter is available too!