Toronto Maple Leafs: The Enemy’s Insight – Beantown Beatdown

What a week it’s been for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After finally optimizing their roster, the Toronto Maple Leafs tore through a four-game stretch of victories, which included back-to-back shutouts against the Rangers and Islanders.

Alas, all that joy and positivity came to a screeching halt on Saturday evening, when the Boston Bruins violently brought Leafs Nation back to reality.

So, where does the team go from here?

Well, that’s exactly what Omar White, managing editor of “A Winning Habit” is asking. And, you know what? I intend on answering the man.

So, without further adieu, let’s kick off the second instalment of FanSided’s newest series:

“The Enemy’s Insight”

“After losing 4-1 Boston (lol) Leafs fans seem to be concerned about facing them in the playoffs. Should that loss just be considered one game or is there something inside the lineup that still needs to be improved?”

First off that little “(lol)” you snuck in there was very much uncalled for.

Anyway, as I brought up in last week’s instalment, I’m really not worried about the outcome of a Leafs-Bruins first-round series.

I’m usually not one to make excuses. Although, allow me to make some excuses.

Fatigue was undoubtedly a factor, as Saturday’s meeting was the Leafs third game in the span of four nights. Their number one defenceman, Morgan Rielly, made his return that night from a lengthy injury hiatus, and clearly needed a game or two to re-acclimate himself to the pace of play.

Plus, let’s not forget they were without current Norris frontrunner Justin Holl. Now THAT’S adversity!

Really, the only thing holding this team back is their centre depth. Tyler Bozak just isn’t cutting it (did you see how lackadaisical his line changes were?) and Dominic Moore has been even worse.

Playoff contenders need to be at least three centres deep down the middle, and the Leafs just aren’t.

What ISN’T the solution, however, is re-inserting Roman Polak into the lineup, which is of course what Mike Babcock is doing.

Playing Polak is pretty much the equivalent of playing shorthanded, and, for whatever reason, the highest paid coach in hockey can’t seem to realize that.

Regardless, one game is one game.

Toronto dusted the Bruins in their earlier meeting this season, one where I believe they were without Auston Matthews, no less. They’ll be fine. Let’s not make any rash decisions from one bad game.

This was a tired team with a number of key cogs returning from injury. Everybody chill.

“It looks Josh Leivo is officially the Frankie Corrado Mark 2. What kind of return could the Leafs expect to get for him?”

I’m going to stop you right there, Omar.

Josh Leivo is NOT Frankie Corrado 2.0. Unlike Corrado, Leivo has built himself a resume full of tangible evidence suggesting he could become an effective NHL scorer someday if used properly.

Corrado, on the other hand, has done no such thing. With Frankie, Leafs fans just believed he could play at an above-replacement level.

With Leivo, we’ve actually seen him do that with our own two eyes.

I wrote yesterday about where Leivo could go, and how his trade request actually doesn’t make as much sense as it seems.

If he truly wanted out, why sign a one-year extension for literally no reason, mere months away from free agency?

Well, this might answer that question.

You know what? Leivo is absolutely correct.

Suiting up for just 20 games over two years, despite guys like Matt Martin having lineup spots set in stone (emphasis on “had”) is unacceptable. Frankly, I don’t blame Leivo one bit for being upset. He’s been treated unfairly.

Unfortunately, Lou Lamoriello doesn’t really care about what is and isn’t fair.

You better believe he’s not exactly keen to deal with all the drama surrounding a trade request from his 14th forward. That’s one headache he will likely refuse to tolerate.

So, in my mind, Edmonton and Vegas seem like the two best landing spots for Leivo.

The Oilers badly need scoring wingers, and Leivo is exactly that, while making just under $1 million per year.

Vegas, on the other hand, is due to see half their roster hit free agency this year. They could certainly use a guy like Leivo to fill the potential James Neal-sized hole.

The Golden Knights also own roughly every single draft pick for the next three years. Without blinking an eye, they could easily toss a third rounder to the Leafs and be done with it.

When you boil it all down, no matter the destination, it seems as if Leivo’s days in Toronto are all but over.

“Travis Dermott has had an incredible week in a Leafs uniform. Is he for real and if so, do the Leafs still try to acquire another defenceman at the deadline?”

Is Dermott for real? Travis Dermott is the realest thing you’ll ever see, baby!!!

The guy is 10 games into his NHL career and is already logging effective shutdown minutes, chipping in offensively and melting our hearts. He’s Toronto’s best defensive prospect since Morgan Rielly and continues to show all the signs of becoming a staple in the team’s top-four for the next decade and a half.

In fact, his emergence has completely altered management’s plans for the trade deadline.

Why waste an asset on 20 subpar games from Erik Gudbranson when you already have a guy who’s not only more effective but comes for free?

Instead, focus your efforts on upgrading the other deficiencies of the lineup, namely the 4C position.

Look, the Leafs already have way too many third pairing options. Trading for Ian Cole or someone along the same lines basically solves nothing. It would be a redundant move serving no discernable purpose.

So, unless they swing for the fences on someone like Oliver Ekman-Larsson, which will most certainly not happen, this the D corps Toronto will ride into the playoffs with.

And, aside from Polak, I’m happy with it.

I mean, we’re only one year away from the Dermott-Timothy Liljegren pairing becoming a reality. What more could you want?

Next: Leivo's Trade Request Raises Questions

Make sure to come back next week for another instalment of “The Enemy’s Insight“!