Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Most Surprising Off-Season Roster Addition
![TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie #94 returns to the dressing room after the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie #94 returns to the dressing room after the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/90c619929d7879099f4709cedc918fe62cd91b0e3e281647c2cb9f819bfd22ee.jpg)
James Tanner
My pick for the most surprising addition is Alexander Kerfoot.
I knew Kerfoot was good, because one of my favorite NHL analysts said that he should have won the Selke Trophy last season, but I didn’t realize he was so fast.
Kerfoot has looked pretty dangerous on a nightly basis, and I have to say that he’s been a more than adequate replacement for Kadri. Since he was drafted, Nazem Kadri was one of my favorite players, and a big part of me wishes he could be on this team when they eventually win, but at the same time, Kerfoot is a better fit.
Kerfoot is a superior defensive player, and while Kadri is better offensively, the fact is the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t need his offense, so he was wasted. Kerfoot gives the Leafs a solid #3 centre, with the versatility to move up to play wing in the top six, which is what I think we’ll see eventually.
I really think the defensive awareness of Kerfoot might go very nicely on a line with Matthews and Nylander, but either way, I’m glad he’s on the team.
Next. Was Mike Babcock Set Up to Fail?. dark
54% Corsi with 57% of the scoring chances are very nice numbers, and the fact that he, Moore and Mikheyev seem to mesh so well makes the Toronto Maple Leafs incredibly dangerous.