2 Hidden High-End Defensive Options for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a desperate need to finally provide Morgan Rielly with a partner who is a qualified top pairing defenseman.

Lou Lamoriello’s tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs was for the most part a positive experience and he did a good job leading the team to their current state. That being said, there’s a possibility that Lamoriello’s poor decisions with the Islanders could help out the Leafs in a way we have never thought of.

Before next season, Lamoriello is tasked with signing three of the Islander’s best players, Mathew Barzal, Devon Toews, and Ryan Pulock. The problem is that the Islanders only have 8 million in cap space to sign three of their top players. 

Let’s take a look at the contract projections for each player based on historical comparables from evolving hockey. 

Barzal is expected to sign at 8 years 9.5M.

Toews is expected at 4 years at 4.7M or two years at 3.9M most likely.

Pulock is expected at 5 years at 6.5M.

Even if these players take slight pay cuts, there is no way that all three players are affordable for the Islanders. Either they will have to have a complete dismantling of the roster or at least one of those players will be offersheeted or traded.

It’s hard to think of a way the Islanders will be able to get rid of all of the anchor contracts to make room for all three players. There’s Johnny Boychuk, Leo Komarov, Andrew Ladd and plenty more. If anyone is going to take Boychuk it will probably have to be more than a first-round pick since he has two years left a 6M, and when the Leafs traded Marleau he only had one year left at 6M.

It’s possible that the Isles are able to make room for these players, but unlikely.  This cap struck situation really leads to a prime potential for an offersheet.

I am well aware that offersheets never happen, but with Montreal’s offersheet on Aho last year it shows that there is more of an acceptance of the approach around the league.

Both Toews and Pulock are undisputed top defensemen who play the tough minutes and put up fantastic results. They are the bread of butter of the Islanders team, and I believe they would be nowhere without both players.

Although Pulock would be a better fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs given the weakness on the right side, the ability to add talent to the backend with Toews likely being an easier get is still intriguing.

Toews has the poise and patience to defend at a high level (shutting down Malkin and Crosby) and the same ability to make brilliant offensive plays from time to time. On the Leafs, Toews would gel perfectly since he would be able to keep up with the Leafs offensive talent while being able to limit offensive chances against at a high level.

I found this great video on youtube that really shows what I’m pointing at when I discuss what kind of impact Devon Toews is able to bring.

A player such as Toews could be a perfect fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs if you make an exception from the lefty/righty dilemma.

As I have mentioned earlier, Toews would likely be an easier get, but Pulock is another player who is still worth taking a look at. I think the Isles would make Pulock fit over Toews and Pulock would likely cost significantly more to the cap.

Pulock would be the type of player every Leafs fan has envisioned to play with Rielly on the top pairing. Pulock is a big strong defenseman who is amazing at limiting high danger opportunities in his own zone. He is positionally sound and can keep up with the best players in the world.

If the Islanders struggle to afford him, the Leafs should be taking a hard look at him.

As a whole, the Lamoriello situation on Long Island has not panned out very well with the countless amount of overpayments to mediocre aging players such as Pageau most recently. The Islanders find themselves in a very tough situation this offseason and it would be silly for other teams to not take advantage of it.

Kyle Dubas should be clearing cap if any of these top-pairing defensemen are susceptible to an offersheet, it would really solidify the core.

Toronto Maple Leafs management along with many other teams has a big task ahead of them this offseason. With the flat cap in place, this makes it harder for teams to navigate their plans moving forward.