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EIL Roundtable: Have the Toronto Maple Leafs Done Enough to Pass the Bruins?

By James Tanner

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 11: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (29) reacts to his goal during Game 1 of the First Round between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 11: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (29) reacts to his goal during Game 1 of the First Round between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 11: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott (23) skates the puck up ice during Game 1 of the First Round between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 11: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott (23) skates the puck up ice during Game 1 of the First Round between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Mark Lugtsy

Year after year the media hot bed that is in Toronto, has constantly begged the Toronto Maple Leafs for that top pairing right handed defenseman.

July 1st came by and Kyle Dubas was a busy body, working the phone lines, trading much-maligned defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown, Michael Carcone in exchange for polarizing defensemen Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur and minor league forward Aaron Luchuk with a 2020 3rd pick.

When acquiring a top pairing defenseman, you have to give in order to get, with Tyson Barrie at retained salary, Dubas managed to also received Alex Kerfoot and a 2020 6th round pick. Dubas had to give up long time Leaf, Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen and a 3rd round pick in 2020. Before July 1st, at the draft, Dubas was able to offload Patrick Marleau to the Hurricanes to free up space to re-sign Kapanen, Johnsson and Marner.

With this new found space from trading Marleau, Brown and Zaitsev, Dubas was able to go bargain hunting for UFA’s as well. July 1st was packed with a flurry of moves, trades and signings with Dubas signing *deep breath*; Jason Spezza, Kenny Agostino, Nick Shore, Pontus Aberg, Michal Neuvirth (PTO), Garrett Wilson, Kenny Agostino, Kevin Gravel.

Now the question is- Did Dubas do enough to overtake the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning?   What is evident is that Dubas more than understands that Toronto needs to become harder to play against based on his trades and UFA signings- Garrett Wilson, Kevin Gravel, Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur, Kenny Agostino.

Looking at these players, they may not even be significant pieces for the leafs but its a step in a balancing act for Dubas. The players mentioned above are not easy to play against, as they all bring a physical presence on the ice.

Boston as we all know is through and through tough to play against. Tampa is of the same ilk as Toronto- attacking its opponents with waves of offense. When Mitch Marner hopefully re-signs, Toronto will have its core locked down for at least 2 years- Marner, Matthews, Rielly, JT, Andersen. Toronto is an established team and looking at their additions, it looks like they are ready to overtake Boston and Tampa.

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