Toronto Maple Leafs: Adding McDonagh Would be Genius

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to Ryan McDonagh.

And while the Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to just about every player in the NHL, this is a persistent rumour that will not go away.

In the last few days I’ve talked to a bunch of Leafs fans who want nothing to do with McDonagh. Too old. Too left handed. Be patient. Don’t trade any kids. etc. etc. etc.

I get it, but here is what I say to those guys:

You don’t know how good McDonagh is. The hand thing doesn’t matter as much as it’s made out to, the patience thing is wrong, and you pretty much have to trade away kids. Let me explain.

Age

Ryan McDonagh is just 28. While there is reason to believe some players start to decline around this time, McDonagh hasn’t ever missed significant time, has no chronic injuries, doesn’t play a style of game that would lead to an early retirement, and is firmly in his prime.

The Bruins signed Chara as a UFA when he was older than McDonagh is now. I think you can count of five or six more elite season from McDonagh. Sure, he’s going to cost a ton to re-sign in two years, but I think every team that wants to contend should probably have a top pairing defenseman between 28-35.

The Leafs currently have Ron Hainsey, 36, playing on their top pairing.

Hand

He shoots left. Who cares? Ron Hainsey is a left shooting right side defenseman who is 36 and half as talented. Gardiner and Rielly both shoot left, but over the last five years, whenever paired together they’ve been amazing. One of them can handle the right side if need be.

In a perfect world you’d like some right-left balance, but ultimately, who cares? It barely matters.

Patience

Most clichés are clichés due to them being accurate. One such cliché is ‘A bird in hand is better than two in the bush.’ This basically means that you don’t know how long you’ll be alive for, can’t predict the future, and that you should capitalize when you can.

It’s nice to imagine a Leafs team three years from now that features superstar defenseman Timothy Liljegren and Travis Dermott. But it’s not realistic.

As much as patience is key, the fact is, the Leafs are getting a Vezina season from their goalie and have a 30 goal star player on their third line, in addition to having cap-space and assets to burn. It is the perfect storm of a chance to win.

The fact is, everyone over rates their own prospects and the vast majority of players never live up to the hype. I’m a huge Liljegren fan and a huge Dermott fan, but there is only a small percentage of a chance that either of them comes close to approaching McDonagh’s current level- which is top ten in the NHL at his position (or damn close; it’s subjective).

Note also that the Penguins traded Jake Muzzin (elite player), Angelo Espesito (a bust, but not when he was traded), Jordan Staal, Joe Morrow, Kasperi Kapanen, Derek Pouliot and five of their last six first rounders. They had to trade Goligoski in his prime, then they had to move on from James Neal. The point is, you have to be willing to let potential star players go if you want to win.

Skill

The bottom line is that Ryan McDonagh is an amazing player, and based on what I’ve seen from Leafs fans since these rumours started, I don’t think people are aware of how good he is.

Few defenceman in the NHL are both physical shutdown shot suppressors, while also putting up 40 points.

The crazy thing about McDonagh, is that except for his rookie season, he has always been partnered with the terrible Dan Girardi. The stats with and without Girdardi are absolutely crazy – McDonagh was anchored for the vast majority of his career to a terrible player. Things didn’t get much better this year when he was saddled with Nick Holden.

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For a guy who has become a top-ten NHL defenseman despite always being stuck with a bad partner, the potential he has if he can play in a good lineup with a good partner is off the charts.

What I’d Pay

McDonagh can make the Toronto Maple Leafs into an elite team. He’s an all-situation defenseman that gives Toronto a Weber/Chara/Hedman style player can dominate games. His current contract is such an insane bargain, and the Leafs timeline so perfectly matched with his prime, that you can see why the Leafs are interested.

The cost though, would be extreme. I’d be willing to part with a first, a second, Connor Brown and one of Liljegren or Dermott to get it done. I know that seems like a lot, but you have to keep in mind that the Leafs have never – at least not since the 80s – developed a defenseman of McDonagh’s quality. To think they have two (or three if you include Rielly) on their current roster is just foolish wishful thinking.

Next: Leafs Potential Trade Deadline Targets

Ryan McDonagh is the kind of player you say ‘well you have to draft a guy like him because he’ll never get traded’ and if he’s available, you go for it.

We’re talking about a player who instantly becomes one of the best defenseman to ever put on the Blue and White. The Toronto Maple Leafs need to get this done.

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