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)