The Toronto Maple Leafs need to add some roster pieces this summer, specifically on the blueline.
Although, there’s more to it than that.
Yes, Kyle Dubas should absolutely be pounding the pavement from the moment the clock strikes July 1st. Only, it should be done with the relationship between the quality and quantity of said reinforcements at the forefront of his mind.
While the Leafs find themselves in dire need defensive help, it’s they aren’t without capable bodies. Heading into training camp, all of Justin Holl, Andreas Borgman, Calle Rosen, Martin Marincin, Igor Ozighanov and Connor Carrick will fight it out for one or two third pairing openings.
That’s a big group for such limited availability.
Stripping away their varying playing styles and pedigrees, the names above all have one thing in common. That being, they each exist as a serviceable blueline option. Some more serviceable than others, with no one transcending that description. Not yet, at least.
This is the crux of the problem.
Too Much Depth
A vast number of merely capable options puts the Leafs in an unenviable position. Particularly when considering Dubas’ prepotency for sniffing out hidden talent.
Put the Leafs in a situation akin to Buffalo’s and they’re laughing.
Even with in-house phenom Rasmus Dahlin – the Atlantic Division’s third-best Rasmus – the Sabres are simply in need of living human bodies to fill out their D corps. Were that the case in Toronto, Dubas could easily work on accumulating previously cast aside depth options who’d inevitably flourish in new surroundings.
Alas, that’s just not what the Leafs need.
I’ve always been of the belief that “too much depth” is an oxymoron. In hockey, anything can happen. That’s been proven time and time again. So, maintaining as many Plan B’s, C’s, D’s, etc. as humanly possible is the obviously best way to operate. Which is to say that having a cavalcade of serviceable bottom pairing contributors isn’t a bad thing. Quite the opposite, really.
It’s just that the Leafs must aim higher in order to successfully move forward.
On the Market
Take Cody Franson, for example.
Dubas’ reported interest in Franson has been bandied about on interwebs all week long. And why not? He’s good.
I’ve been a vocal fan of both Franson the player, and a reunion between him and the Leafs for a while now, dating all the way back to his initial UFA period in Buffalo. In fact, one of the first pieces I wrote as Managing Co-Editor of this website centred entirely around a plea for then-GM Lou Lamoriello to claim him off waivers from Chicago.
Lou didn’t listen to me. Shocking, I know.
Throughout his career, Franson has consistently produced favourable advanced metrics in his role as an effective third pairing puck mover. A role he’s executed to a tee for years. Shooting right, he’d inevitably assume the D spot previously occupied by Roman Polak.
Needless to say, he’d be a marked improvement.
I bring up Franson for a reason. Namely, to highlight that, when broken down, the Leafs don’t actually need him. Or any other comparable free agent in a similar position for that matter.
Rather, the Leafs already possess numerous depth pieces capable of performing Franson’s role to a degree of acceptable adequacy. Bringing in the 30-year-old would only further clog an already logjammed portion of the depth chart.
Bottom line, Toronto’s goal for this upcoming season is to continue along their current trajectory.
Looking at their success from the initial five-year Shannaplan perspective, 2018-19 dictates that the Leafs, now in year 4, should be entering into a phase of perennial contention. After establishing franchise records in both wins and points last season, 2017-18 served as a definitive step forward from 2016-17. Now, they just need to do it again.
Breaking into the league’s elite echelon won’t be achieved with a surplus of third pairing D.
What Can They Do?
Laying out a problem is far easier than uncovering its solution.
With John Carlson now off the market (not that the Leafs should have pursued him anyway) the current crop of UFA defencemen turns frighteningly slim. Filtering by right-handedness, Mike Green projects as the next best option. A player any team should be extremely hesitant of endowing with any term. From there, we’re left to pick from a pile comprised of the Kevin Bieksas and Luke Schenns of the world.
Yikes.
So, what can do they do?
Trades
The next logical avenue would be to traverse the trade market.
This is certainly not to advocate for selling the farm in hopes of landing a Drew Doughty or Erik Karlsson-sized fish. Rather, the Leafs are best served to identify potential top-four contributors who find themselves diminished by unfavourable circumstances on their current teams. Ones who could be pried loose at below market value. Something I’m quite aware is far easier said than done.
The first name that comes to mind is Mark Pysyk.
The 26-year-old right-hander perfectly fits the above criteria, having been mired in the perpetual flux that is the Florida Panthers organization for the past 2 years. He won’t fill the net – his career-high is 18 points – but Pysyk is a terrific shutdown defender and adept possession driver.
With only a mere 3 seasons of full-time experience under his belt, he’s an unknown commodity to the untrained eye. The type which doesn’t carry the top-4 prestige capable of driving up asking prices.
Pysyk’s first two seasons saw him finish above the 50% mark in 5v5 CF/60, with marks of 51.9% and 50.9% in 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively. His 48.6% mark from 2017-18 projects more as an indictment on his Panther teammates than the play of his own.
Late-season playoff push aside, Pysyk found himself buried on a bottom-feeding roster, the victim of some unfortunate puck luck, highlighted by a 98.6 PDO.
At this very moment, Pysyk’s value has never, and likely will never, be lower. Pulling the trigger now would be buying cavernously low on an otherwise effective contributor. Couple that with Dale Tallon’s tendency to outright give up on certain players and sell them for pennies on the dollar and Dubas’ repeated calls to Florida should have racked up a ridiculous long-distance bill by now.
Pysyk may just be one potential option. Albeit, an option who signifies the exact player archetype of which the Leafs should target.
As the age-old saying goes: the only thing better than depth is quality depth.
Next: Dispelling the Tavares Excuses
Thanks for reading!