Toronto Maple Leafs: Plekanec Makes Toronto Contenders

In a move precisely zero people on planet earth saw coming, the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Tomas Plekanec and Kyle Baun from the Montreal Canadiens. Going the other way is Rinat Valiev, Kerby Rychel and a 2018 second round pick.

And just like that, the Toronto Maple Leafs are contenders.

The most glaring need for the Leafs all season long had been a capable fourth line centre. Blessed with such staggering talent, there was simply no excuse for this team to lack a roster four lines deep.

Now, with Plekanec on board, that can happen.

So, once we tire of blasting confetti cannons and spraying champagne, let’s take a look at the various pieces both coming and going from this trade.

Who’s Leaving?

Kerby Rychel and Rinat Valiev were both phenomenal members of the Toronto Marlies, and they will be greatly missed.

Although, that’s exactly what they are; AHLers.

Neither player held any chance of cracking the Leafs roster. Not as a mid-season call-up and not out of next year’s training camp either.

Recognizing this, it became prudent for Toronto to move them for something of value if the opportunity presented itself. Thankfully, it did.

Kerby Rychel

Rychel, while bringing immense quantities of sandpaper and grit to the table, has simply never shown the signs of being an NHL calibre player. Namely, footspeed has remained his Achilles heel, something he’s failed to improve upon in the five long years since being drafted.

With 30 points in 55 games for a stacked Marlies team, Rychel was a perfectly commendable AHL scorer. His presence would aid his team to victory. Although, his absence wouldn’t cost them any victories either.

Rinat Valiev

Valiev, on the other hand, was one of the longest-tenured Marlies, having joined the team in 2014-15.

Like Rychel, Valiev is a perfectly capable AHLer who was at his most effective when being noticed the least. In the midst of a quietly productive offensive season,15 points in 40 games, he and Justin Holl formed arguably the most consistent defence pair on the Marlies.

Alas, Valiev’s path to the NHL would never wind through Toronto.

Were he right-handed, this would likely be an entirely different discussion. Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Travis Dermott and Ron Hainsey are all LHD options currently at the NHL level. And that’s not to mention fellow Marlie Andreas Borgman, left-handed as well, who stands leaps and bounds above Valiev on the depth chart.

Such are the challenges of existing within a cupboard as loaded as Toronto’s. You cannot settle for just being “good”.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Valiev is.

And as for the 2018 second round pick, let’s be real here. Yes, it’s unfortunate to expend a relatively high draft pick for what will inevitably be a playoff rental.

Although, with how deep Toronto’s farm system currently is, it’s a price they can absolutely afford.

Who’s Arriving?

Oh, boy.

While Tomas Plekanec may no longer be the same player who once commanded a $6 million cap hit, that doesn’t mean he’s no longer effective.

In fact, Plekanec, surrounded by a barren wasteland of talent on a bottom-five team headed for a rebuild, has maintained an impressive rate of production. In 60 games this season, he’s put up a respectable six goals and 18 assists, good for 24 points.

To put that in perspective, the Bruins just paid a king’s ransom for Rick Nash, who has only outscored Plekanec by a measly four points as a winger.

God, I love the Atlantic division.

Plekanec’s underwhelming goal largely stems from his pitiful 4.8% shooting percentage, by far the lowest of his career. Blessed with new linemates in either Josh Leivo or Leo Komarov and Kasperi Kapanen, it’s safe to assume that won’t be sustainable for much longer.

Now comes the fun part.

This season, Plekanec has started a whopping 59% of his shifts in the defensive zone, while logging 131:12 of shorthanded ice time, the 12th highest total among NHL centres.

Does he kill penalties? You bet he does.

While facing heavy defensive zone starts and such a prominent penalty killing role, Plekanec has still managed to register a 51.3% CF/60 at 5v5, despite playing the majority of his even strength minutes with Brendan Gallagher, Charles Hudon and Paul Byron.

Factor in that Montreal is retaining 50% of Plekanec’s salary, and this day just keeps getting better.

Verdict

In exchange for two relatively impactful AHLers they had no intention of using at the NHL level, the Leafs received an effective player who acutely fills their roster’s most glaring positional hole, at just 50% of his price tag.

Toronto’s newly formed centre group of Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak and Plekanec now sits amongst the league’s best, rivalling both Pittsburgh and Nashville.

Further down the depth chart, Rychel and Valiev’s departures mean an increased workload for promising youngsters like Timothy Liljegren, Jeremy Bracco and Borgman. All of whom have taken sizeable developmental strides this season.

All in all, not only does Plekanec’s arrival impart a positive impact on the organization’s immediate present but on their future as well.

Start buying your turtlenecks, people. This is gonna be a wild ride.