The Toronto Maple Leafs are desperate for a defenseman.
Specifically, the Toronto Maple Leafs are desperate for a right handed defenseman.
Or so the media would have you believe.
If you actually look at their roster, and more importantly, their behavior, I don’t think they are desperate at all.
I think the Toronto Maple Leafs blue-line is set for the immediate future.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blue Line
The Toronto Maple do not care about balancing the number of left and right handed defenseman as much as their fans and the media do.
When the Leafs needed a righty, they brought in Jake Muzzin, notably a lefty.
Then, in the summer, when everyone knew they definitely needed a righty, they traded for T.J Brodie, a left hander.
Sure, that deal was rejected by Kadri’s no-trade clause, and the team ended up adding the right-handed Tyson Barrie, but the fact that their first choice was another lefty (twice in a row) should tell you all you need to know about their values: they value talent over handedness.
So that brings us to this summer. Again, everyone KNOWS the team needs a righty. But what do they do? They bring in another left-hander, this time its Russian Norris Trophy winner Mikko Lehtenon.
And guess what? He’s playing. You don’t sign the most coveted free-agent in the hockey world without promising him a lineup spot.
Morgan Rielly is, for all intents and purposes, the team’s captain. Jake Muzzin was just re-signed. Rasmus Sandin is on the verge of superstardom. Add in Lehtonen, and that is four of next year’s seven defenseman already on the roster.
It would be pretty weird for a team like the Leafs to move on from the ridiculous level of team-friendly value in Justin Holl’s contract, so he’s staying.
Travis Dermott is 23 and compares favorably to every player his age who plays his position and has a similar amount of NHL experience.
He has put up elite numbers relative to his 3rd pairing role, and has a stats profile that puts him in the upper-echelon of NHL defenseman (granted, with 3rd line minutes, but someone has to play those minutes and few are as effective).
It would be crazy to get rid of him.
That’s six.
Timothy Liljegren, who despite everything, still projects to be a very good NHL defenseman (and who is right handed) will also need a chance to be able to force his way onto the team.
That is seven NHL defenseman. Five lefties, two righties.
It’s nice to fantasize, but who exactly would Dylan Demelo or Chris Tanev be an upgrade over on this roster?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have what everyone in the NHL wants: 1 stud elite level defenseman, two solid borderline top pairing guys, and four young potential stars.
Seems to me that the Leafs blue-line is extremely underrated, and I can’t see why the team would be interested in upgrading.