The Toronto Maple Leafs desperately need to upgrade their defense.
Whether it’s via trade, free agency or in-house, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to strengthen their defensive-core.
Finishing 27th in the NHL in Goals Allowed, the Leafs gave up way too goals this season.
As one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup the past few seasons, the Leafs have thrown away an offensively-gifted team thanks to their lack of defense.
When the Leafs traded for Tyson Barrie last July, that was the type of player many fans thought would make a difference.
A right-handed puck-moving defenseman who can jump into the rush to contribute offensively is the type of player that fits the mold in Toronto.
In countless interviews, the Leafs always talk about how they want they want puck-moving defenseman who get it up the ice quickly. Whether that’s with their own speed or quick passes in the neutral zone to their forwards.
Barrie was a player that was supposed to do everything the Leafs wanted but he folded. In the biggest season of his career, he threw away a ton of money by how terrible he played.
I’ve defended his play since the Sheldon Keefe hiring, but he did nothing in the playoffs to prove the Leafs should bring him back.
With Barrie set to become a UFA, the Leafs have two defensive spots available next year (assuming Dermott resigns) that they need to upgrade.
Here are the top-10 right-handed defenseman the Leafs should pursue: