The Toronto Maple Leafs are in an interesting spot.
Despite not having played a game or made a roster move in months, the Toronto Maple Leafs defense is a topic of daily concern for some.
So much so that this week, I learned that Mitch “I’m only not a franchise player because the team is lousy with them” Marner has been pre-traded.
Basically everyone seems to think the Leafs will have no choice to move one of their big contracts because their defense is so terrible, and they have no depth.
Except, none of this is grounded in reality.
Yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs have spent nearly all of their money next season. And yes, it may be difficult to find raises for Ilya Mikheyev and Travis Dermott (though Dermott would at least bring back assets should it come to that).
But people seem to forget that the Leafs roster is already mostly set for next year. And they seem to completely ignore the fact that their blue line is already kind of awesome.
If Mikheyev leaves, one of Nick Robertson or Alex Barabanov can step in play with Kerfoot and Kapanen.
There should be more than enough money to sign Clifford and Spezza to play with Pierre Engvall, and if that is the Leafs bottom six it is the best bottom six in the NHL by a mile.
But what about that Defense?
Toronto Maple Leafs Blue Line
The Leafs already have Holl, Sandin, Rielly and Muzzin locked in for next season.
They have signed supposed best defenseman in the world who is not currently in the NHL Mikko Lehtenon.
That’s five.
Travis Dermott and Timothy Liljegren make seven.
And Martin Marincin makes eight.
Let’s say the Leafs are forced to trade Dermott and can’t re-sign Mikheyev. They would easily be able to afford Spezza and Clifford under those circumstances, and with Robertson, Liljegren, and Sandin all ready to step into the NHL next season, the Leafs will basically have the same team they have right now.
The fact is that this team is good enough to win now, and the vast majority of the teams core players are still getting better. They won’t lose a single important piece, and they’ve already got the replacements for those that they do lose on the roster.
So why is everyone so freaked out? The Leafs don’t need to upgrade. From the time the Leafs hired Keefe to the last game of the year, they put up top-of-the-league stats comparable to Boston and Tampa, and finished eight overall by points percentage.
They did that despite playing 22 games without Morgan Rielly, nine with both Rielly and Muzzin out, and while getting the 24th best goaltending in the league.
If they can get eighth under those freak occurrence circumstances, and they don’t have roster vacancies, and don’t stand to lose any core players, I guess I just don’t see what the problem is.
They get two chances at a Cup with Hyman/Rielly/Andersen as part of their core, then they’ll have to re-jig a little the year there is an expansion draft.
Everyone is freaking out for no reason.