Toronto Maple Leafs: Left Unprotected, Matt Martin’s Gone
If the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t protect Matt Martin, he would’ve been taken.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the Toronto Maple Leafs would’ve lost Martin to the Vegas Golden Knights if they didn’t protect him.
I just hit a nerve with everyone pretty much, but I don’t really care.
No, I’m not writing this to just write it and trust me, I’m going to back up that statement with reasoning.
I’d like to think I do that with everything I write.
Think about it for a second, why wouldn’t the Golden Knights take Martin if he weren’t protected?
Brett Slawson of The Hockey Writers wrote a great piece arguing the exact opposite of what I’m about to argue.
He has some good points.
I encourage you to read both perspectives – his and mine – to help solidify your own.
Hypothetical
Let’s say he was exposed and Brendan Leipsic was protected.
That leaves two obvious choices to go after, Martin and Kerby Rychel and for the sake of my argument, they’re the only two.
Who do you think they’d take out of those two?
Martin.
About a week ago, I wrote about why I think he should be protected and you can read about that here.
My reasoning hasn’t changed and in the end, doesn’t really matter because we know that he was protected.
However, it should still serve some place for you when reading this article.
If you’re a fan of Martin or not, keep reading because this is for you.
Okay, now to go a little deeper.
Leafs Lunch
The other day on Leafs Lunch, the group was talking about Martin and Leipsic, along with their protection implications.
Andi Petrillo started the conversation about the Leafs protection list.
"You still have people who are not really happy. And the one name that keeps popping up and the responses I even got was Matt Martin.Why was a protection spot used on him?Because there seems to be this belief that if they had exposed him, Vegas never would have taken on that contract, so why, just take the risk, expose him and protect a guy and everyone seems to be pretty high on Brendan Leipsic."
Good guy Dave Poulin went on to argue against that thought process.
"There is an indication, Matt Martin played a very valuable part on this team this year for the development of the young players. That’s known in the locker room, it’s obvious if you watch, he was signed for a reason because it seemed a little bit of, not like a Mike Babcock type of signing, you know, he never had like a designated tough guy.He always had someone who can handle himself on Detroit and they didn’t have that player they felt on the Leafs that was capable of skating on the fourth line. They signed Matt Martin as a free agent last year and they wanted to keep him and that makes total, total sense.And there are a number of prospects and I said this to you last week, that are like Brendan Leipsic."
After Thoughts
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Okay, a few things.
Poulin is absolutely correct and he actually reiterated something I had said in my previous Martin piece.
Martin was signed for a reason and a good one.
He serves a valuable purpose and the Leafs aren’t the only team to notice it, hence why he probably would’ve been taken over a Rychel type had he been exposed.
Furthermore, he’s a proven NHL player and you know exactly what you’ll get from him.
On the other hand, Rychel isn’t proven and we don’t know what he’ll bring.
Yes, the Leafs could’ve ensured that Leipsic wouldn’t have been taken by protecting him, but they would’ve lost Martin.
In my opinion, if you have to weigh the two based on importance to the team now and in the future, Martin is more important.
Que the hate.
Matt Martin’s Contract
Martin signed a four-year $10 million deal and has three years remaining.
You can argue that’s a lot for a player like him, but I’d argue that’s a steal.
Think about what the Leafs get from him.
Protection, grit, hard work, toughness, smart agitation, momentum, glue, leadership, hard hitter, an example on and off the ice, among other things.
All of that for $2.5 million annually.
Do you think that wouldn’t be appealing to Vegas, that type of contract?
Sure it would be.
Yes, they want picks and prospects, but if you’re under the thought process that they’re not coming out to compete, then I just don’t know anymore.
Left Exposed
The argument that if Martin was left exposed, he wouldn’t be taken is incorrect on so many levels.
Yes, if he was taken it could’ve opened up a roster spot for a younger player to step up.
Great, it opened up a roster spot, meaning the Leafs now have to fill it and they do have the guys to fill it, they do, but they aren’t Martin.
He’s on the roster for a reason, a purpose, and no other player in the Leafs system could fill the hole like he does.
Vegas can now choose between Leipsic and Rychel (among others) and quite frankly, it’s no big deal to lose either.
Sorry to bring Frank into this.
Who knows if one, both or neither of them will fit into the NHL, maybe they will with another team.
However, I just don’t see either fitting into the Leafs plan in the foreseeable future, so I’m not too worried about it.
In conclusion, if the Leafs exposed Martin, he’d be gone plain and simple.
Fact, based entirely on my opinion, so opinion.