Toronto Maple Leafs: 2 Potential Defenseman Off the Market
By James Tanner
Two potential defenseman the Leafs could have had are off the market.
Everyone knows the Toronto Maple Leafs would like to upgrade their defense. But now, two potential upgrades are off the market after re-signing with their current teams.
With John Tavares in the fold, the Leafs have a good enough team to compete, as is. Doesn’t mean an upgrade on defense wouldn’t be nice, however.
That said. I think the Leafs D is a bit underrated. With Jake Gardiner and Morgain Rielly, the Leafs feature two of the better defenseman in the NHL. Maybe they’re not on a Drew Doughty level, but they are unquestionably top pairing defenseman.
Leafs D
Travis Dermott was good last year as a rookie in sheltered minutes, and hopefully he can improve this season. The Leafs have prospects Timothy Liiljegren and Rasmus Sandin, but anything they provide the Leafs this season will be a complete bonus as either one making the NHL next year would constitute quite the surprise. (Although barring an upgrade on the right side, you’d have to think Liljegren would have to suck pretty bad in training camp to not make it). Still, whether or not they play this year, that’s a pretty good trio of blueliners to build around.
As for the rest, the Leafs have some depth, and not much else. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a decent set of good defenders who don’t really get much credit due to the complete absence of offense in their games in Martin Marincin and Connor Carrick. Borgman, Rosen, and Holl make for decent depth options in case of injury, but if you’re penciling them into an October lineup…..well let’s just say that’s not too good.
Ron Hainsey plays too much and really has no business on a contending team. Nikita Zaitsev is an offensive defenseman with limited defensive abilities. These are the two current players the Leafs should be looking to improve upon. When you’re best right-handed option is Connor Carrick, you better be looking to improve your team. (Even though I think he’d be a decent second pairing option).
Two chances to do so came off the table last night.
Miller and Demelo
Two right handed and very underrated defenseman were taken off the market yesterday.
Dylan Demelo, is an underrated player who re-signed with the San Jose Sharks. He is a decent defender and a decent puck mover. He’s not really a great player, but he’d add depth on the blue line in much the same way the Tyler Ennis added it on forward.
Demelo is 25 and he was an underrated UFA I was hoping the Leafs might pick up.
The dream was to get Colin Miller, the defenseman from the Golden Knights. Miller is a player who hasn’t got top line minutes yet, but which every measurement suggest are in his future. He provides offense and is excellent defensively. He would have made a great partner for Morgan Rielly. He even signed to a pretty team-friendly deal.
Neither of these players are coming to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but they are good examples of the kinds of players the Leafs should be looking to add.