3 Defensemen the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Still Acquire
Defense has recently been a problem for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired two defensemen via free agency this off-season in TJ Brodie and Zach Bogosian, and I don’t think they are finished just yet.
The current Toronto Maple Leafs have Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, TJ Brodie, Justin Holl, Travis Dermott, Mikko Lehtonen, Zach Bogosian, and Rasmus Sandin. However it is a possibility one or two of these defensemen could be out the door in order for Toronto to bring in another top-four defenseman.
Here are three possibilities.
3. Josh Manson – 29 years old – RD
2019-20 stats – 50 GP – 1 G – 8 A – 9 PTS – 50% CF%
Career stats – 385 GP – 21 G – 76 A – 97 PTS – 51% CF%
The Toronto Maple Leafs should still try to acquire Josh Manson. Josh isn’t a flashy defensemen who will score 30-40 points a season, he’s actually the opposite. He’s a big guy who stands at 6’3, 224 lbs and plays a defensive style game rather than an offensive style game.
Although he isn’t a flashy offensive defensemen he still does put up decent numbers for playing the style he plays. In his six years in the NHL he has hit just shy of the 40 point mark once (37 points) and has hit at least the 15 point mark three times.
The only times when he has put up less than 10 points was in his rookie year when he finished with three points and this season when he he put up nine points.
He would be a great addition to this Toronto Maple Leafs blue line, however he isn’t the same Manson in years past that was a beast on the defensive end, but he is still a great option for any team.
The asking price for Manson is reportedly high but Manson is definitely a guy to look at if you’re Toronto. (All Stats from NHL.com)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – JULY 30: David Savard #58 of the Columbus Blue Jackets .(Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
2. David Savard – 29 years old – RD
2019-20 stats – 37 GP – 1 G – 10 A – 11 PTS – 46.5% CF%
Career stats – 557 GP – 40 G – 120 A – 160 PTS – 48.3% CF%
At my number two spot is David Savard. Compared to a Josh Manson, Savard is more offensive, however he is still relatively good on the defensive side of the puck as well. I believe he would be a great addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It was reported by Andy Strickland on Twitter that Columbus is shopping defensemen David Savard who has one year left on his current deal with a cap hit of $4.25M.
Hearing #CBj shopping Dman David Savard. 1 year left at $4.25 hit https://t.co/AiXNiDz6GA
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) October 9, 2020
Adding a guy like Savard will instantly improve that top-four and make the Leafs a contender. Now who would I rather have between Manson and Savard, probably Manson however the asking price would be higher for Manson.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 11: MacKenzie Weegar #52 of the Florida Panthers 3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
1. MacKenzie Weegar – 26 years old – LD
2019-20 stats – 45 GP – 7 G – 11 A – 18 PTS – 51.7% CF%
Career stats – 172 GP – 13 G – 28 A – 41 PTS – 51.7% CF%
At my number one spot is MacKenzie Weegar.
Now a lot of people may not know who MacKenzie Weegar is, but he’s a very underrated defensemen from Florida.
At 26 years old and currently an RFA set to have an arbitration meeting on November 8th he is getting a lot of attention from a handful of teams in the league according to Elliotte Friedman, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of them.
He is a right shot defensemen who plays on the left side because he was paired with Aaron Ekblad in Florida, however I doubt the change to the right side will be challenging for him if he ends up getting dealt to Toronto.
The asking price for a guy like Weegar is unknown to me but it was reported on Elliotte Friedman’s 31 Thoughts podcast that Florida had interest in two of Toronto’s players and the Maple Leafs allegedly turned it down.
Elliotte Friedman on 31 Thoughts podcast about Weegar and Toronto. “I think that Florida made an ask, and i think that they were looking at Johnsson & Dermott, and i think Toronto turned that down”#LeafsForever
— Joseph Zita (@josephdzita) October 13, 2020
Perhaps the cost could come down for this player after arbitration and we could see a trade similar to the Devon Toews trade to Colorado which only cost them two 2nd round picks.
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While the Leafs may or may not be done for now, I’d really like to see them add one of these defensemen.