Toronto Maple Leafs 2019 Summer Predictions

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Boston Bruins in game seven of the opening round of the playoffs.

The best the Toronto Maple Leafs can hope for now is a St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup.

Not only does it give ex-Leafs Tyler Bozak and Carl Gunnersson a well-deserved Stanley Cup, but it denies the same thing to the hated Bruins.

But besides hating the Bruins and hate-watching the SCF, the Leafs have been busy in the rumour zone.

From Marner, to Marleau, Hainsey to Zaitsev, the rumour mill has been extremely active.  The Leafs have been linked to Dougie Hamilton, and everyone’s been speculating on offer-sheets and Jacob Trouba.

Frankly, considering the team hasn’t been playing, it’s been a blast.

So with all the rumours in mind, I thought it might be fun to put together a prediction post.  Here are your ten Toronto Maple Leafs Summer Predictions.

Summer Predictions

1. The Toronto Maple Leafs DO NOT trade Nazem Kadri.

He is just too valuable, too cheap, and he’s the only guy on the team who brings an edge.

2. Ron Hainsey is not re-signed.

He stinks!  The rumours are he’ll be back, but those betray a team run on analytic principles.  Hainsey can’t play on the top line anymore, and moving him down just takes him away from the good players propping him up.

It’s time for Old Ron to retire.

3. Marleau goes to the Kings

The Sharks don’t make sense, the Ducks have said they aren’t interested, and Arizona will command too much in other assets.  The Kings can send back the Leafs some bad contracts of their own, which the Leafs can either trade or buy-out.  This is the best match.

4. Frederik Gauthier gets traded to the Canucks.

He can’t score enough to be worth playing, and his possession rating is terrible.  He is, however, a great defensive player.  The Leafs will send him to Vancouver where they value this kind of player.  The return will be surprisingly good.

5.  Jake Gardiner re-signs.

This may be wishful thinking on my part, but I really hope it happens.

6. Auston Matthews named Captain.

Hey, they’ve got to do something to make him happy since they decided (wrongly) to bring back Mike Babcock.

7. Nikita Zaitsev Traded to Canucks

I think the Canucks are also a good fit for Zaitsev.  He’s got to go, and go he will.

8.  Kapanen Traded.

I don’t think he projects to be a first-line player, and so the I think the Toronto Maple Leafs will let someone overpay for his speed.

9.  Andreas Johnsson re-signed.

Johnsson scored at a first line rate last year, and the Leafs are going to lock him up.  He can score 40 goals in the NHL, so hopefully they lock him up early and for a long time.  He is way way better than Kapanen.

10. Leafs and Hurricanes Make a Trade.

I think these two teams are just too perfect of a fit to not get a deal done.  Kasperi Kapanen for Brett Pesce is probably too much to hope for, but it’d be a nice deal if the Leafs can swing it.

Now, please keep in mind that I am generally terrible at predictions, and place your bets accordingly.  Please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times.  Thanks!