The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t play another game for five months.
For the fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’ll be a long layover. Every year when hockey ends, it’s nice to have a break for a while. Usually, the team sucks and you’re just happy to watch baseball.
But now that the team is good, and on the verge of being really, really good, I for one can’t wait to see what they do. I love this team and it’s going to be fun to see what they do.
First thing’s first, the Leafs are going to have to decide who their GM is. Will Lamoriello step aside in favor of Kyle Dubas? When will it happen?
After that, there’s the three superstars who need new contracts. William Nylander for sure needs to be signed, and if the Leafs are smart, they’ll lock up Marner and Matthews a year early in order to save some money. Although how much remains to be seen since each of them probably wants and deserves as much as they can probably get.
Draft and Free Agency
The Leafs are going to have a draft pick around 24th. They’ve traded their second, third and sixth round picks, but have acquired the second and third round picks of the San Jose Sharks.
It’s funny because they got those picks for Roman Polak, who then came back to the Leafs. Additionally, the Sharks picks are slightly better than the Leafs picks would have been.
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They’re probably going to lose Komarov, Bozak and James van Riemsdyk to free agency, and unless the Islanders re-sign Tavares, I hope you’re prepared for wall-to-wall will-they-or-won’t-they Tavares coverage.
There is also going to be a trade. The Leafs need to get a defenseman. And, while I cautioned (I think reasonably) against big-ticket items in a post yesterday, I think there is a reasonable target in Vancouver named Christopher Tanev. He wouldn’t cost Nylander, but he’d be somewhat expensive.
Tanev would be the perfect partner for Rielly as he’s right handed and the rare ‘stay at home defenseman’ who actually improves his teams’ defensive performance. (Ironically, it’s puck-moving defenseman who have the biggest defensive impact and players like Roman Polak just bleed shots-against).
Next: No Need to Chase Elite D
To recap: Choose a GM, sign Matthews, Nylander and Marner, draft some new players, trade for a defenseman, decide if you’re going to make a play for Tavares.
It’s going to be an insane summer.