The Toronto Maple Leafs had a successful summer.
The Toronto Maple Leafs landed the biggest free agent fish in NHL history, and anticipation for what should be a lengthy playoff run and potential Stanley Cup victory is at a fever pitch.
But the Leafs aren’t ready to start the season.
And preseason begins in two weeks, which means: You should expect some action.
Moves to Make
The Toronto Maple Leafs may or may not make some trades, sign some PTOs or do any number of things. Who knows? But one thing is all but certain: William Nylander will be signing a contract sometime in the next two weeks.
William Nylander, despite some of the worst trade ideas I’ve ever heard, isn’t going anywhere. But he doesn’t have a contract, as of yet. Therefore, we can expect him to sign one any time. I highly doubt the Leafs are going to have trouble signing him. He wants to be here, and they want him here.
If I had to guess, and guess I will, I’d say that the hold up is because the Leafs would ideally like to make a splash when they sign all three players – Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Nylander – to simultaneous extensions.
Not only would this be the best possible outcome, but it would cement GM Kyle Dubas as a genius and all-time great GM without ever having made a single major trade.
It’s hard to image the Leafs topping the signing of John Tavares, but the triple signing is about the only thing that could do that.
Now, I have no idea if it’s possible. For all I know, Matthews and Marner could insist on signing next year in order to maximize their earnings. But here is the thing: It’s a pretty big risk. Maybe they could each add another million or so annually by having outstanding seasons.
But the drawbacks are potential injuries, slumps, or other various forms of bad luck. When you’re already going to be signing for so much money, a tiny bit extra isn’t going to change your life. If it’s me, I get it out of the way, insure myself against the future and take the money now.
So that’s why I think it will happen.
Other Moves
Besides needing to sign Nylander and hopefully signing the other two, the Leafs have other problems. They still need a defensive presence on their wings that Kapanen may or may not be able to provide. And they still need a defenseman. Ron Hainsey just can’t cut it anymore. Not for a team that just signed the most expensive UFA deal in history.
Now, sure, they could wait and see what they have. But they know what they have. Or don’t have. And the fact is, their division features three teams which are going to make the playoffs – Tampa, Boston and the Leafs. Of those teams, whoever doesn’t win the division will almost certainly get the stupidest possible opening round match-up.
In order to avoid that, the Leafs must win the division. Which means they must treat October like it’s April and get themselves into contender status as soon as possible.
Ron Hainsey, first pairing defenseman isn’t going to cut it.
I fully expect a signed Nylander and a new defenseman in the next month, possibly even two weeks.
What about you?