The Toronto Maple Leafs defense is better than most people think.
While the Toronto Maple Leafs could use another top four defenseman, doing so is not a make or break for the Leafs winning the Stanley Cup.
Look at what the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to do with an even worse defense than the Leafs have. Their typical top six was Justin Schultz, Ian Cole, Ron Hainsey, Olli Maatta, Brian Dumoulin and Trevor Daley. Mark Streit played for three games and Chad Ruhwedel played for six games.
I do not think you can even try to argue that their defense is better than what the Leafs have. Now, of course having a strong defense is important, and just because a team got the breaks necessary to win without a strong defense doesn’t mean that that is a recipe for roster construction.
It’s not the only consideration, however. A balanced team is not necessarily superior to an unbalanced one if the forwards and goalie make up the difference, which on the Leafs they do.
Leafs Defense Is Alright
Rielly and Gardiner both had more than 50 points last season. You can’t listen to what people say about Gardiner any more than you would listen to some who say the earth is flat. People are going to have their opinions, and that is fine, but do you think he would be Mike Babcock’s most used defenseman if those people were right? The amount of hate he gets is ridiculous and unwarranted.
Dermott is coming into his own and will take another step forward this season. Zaitsev had a somewhat impressive rookie season, but played poorly last season.
Carrick is probably the Leafs best defensive defenseman, and good things happen when he is on the ice, and despite being small, he plays an aggressive game. Hainsey is on both teams, but you could argue he was better on Pittsburgh because of his age.
Overall, Toronto’s defense is better than Pittsburgh’s, there is no question about it. Even the depth that Toronto has is better. The Leafs still have Igor Ozhiganov, Justin Holl, Andreas Borgman, Calle Rosen, Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin in the minors.
And it’s not just Pittsburgh. The Washington Capitals also won a Cup last year and if their defense is better than the Leafs, which I don’t think it is, it is not by much.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the goalie and the forwards to overcome their defense, which is not even close to as weak as people think it is.
Overall, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a better defense than the last two reigning Stanley Cup champions do. The Leafs can go all the way with the team they have now.
That does not mean that they should not make an upgrade to improve their chances, it just means that they should not be desperate to do so.