Toronto Maple Leafs: Marincin Will Make the Team

Martin Marincin will start the season as the Toronto Maple Leafs 7th defenseman.

No, this isn’t a hot take and no I’m not just writing this to cause a stir in Leafs Nation. Martin Marincin will most likely be the Toronto Maple Leafs 7th defenseman when the season kicks off Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets.

I know Mr. Marincin isn’t exactly Mr. Popularity around here, but before you march to my house with torches and pitchforks, here me out, because there’s one simple explanation as to why.

Beneficial to the Other Candidates

Right now, we know the other potential candidates to make up the Toronto Maple Leafs top 6-7. Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Nikita Zaitsev, Ron Hainsey, Conor Carrick are the locked in top 5. The final starting roster spot, in my opinion, goes to Calle Rosen.

This leaves three legitimate candidates for the Leafs 7th defenseman spot; Martin Marincin, Andreas Borgman and Travis Dermott.

Of the three bubble players, Marincin is the only one that would require waiver should he be sent down. The other two, on entry-level deals, would not.

As a 7th defenseman, you’re going to spend a majority of the year in the pressbox doing nothing. Also, The only time the 7th defenseman gets playing time, is when one of the current players under preforms or gets hurt.

Travis Dermott (20 years old) and Andreas Borgman (22 years old) are a lot younger than Marincin (25 years old). Making either one of Dermott or Borgman sit in the press box is an awful idea. For young players to develop, they need playing time. Both Borgman and Dermott would develop and benefit a lot more if they played heavy minutes in the AHL this season rather than sit in a box in the NHL for most of the season.

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You simply cannot have a prospect playing the role of the extra defenseman.

Conclusion

“Eye Test” warriors and “Corsi” nerds will argue about this all day and all night.  In reality, you don’t need to be a stats-fiend to realize that Marincin has always had a positive impact in over 200 NHL games.

If you look at it objectively, the only logical move here is to keep Marincin as the 7th defenseman. Unless the Toronto Maple Leafs go out and trade for another bottom pair defenseman, Marincin is the only one they have that can sit in the press box and play when called upon.  Dermott and Borgman would be a waste of talent if they don’t play (see: Josh Leivo). The future of these players are more important than them getting limited minutes this season.

Whether you love him or hate him, Martin Marincin will most likely make the team.