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Examining the First Week of the Toronto Maple Leafs Season

By Jordan Maresky

Jan 13, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 15: TJ Brodie #78 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  . (Photo by Matt Zambonin/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

TJ Brodie was Such a Good Addition

Being born in 2000, it is safe to say Brodie has been the most impactful right-side defensemen I can remember to don the Blue and White. The former Calgary Flame brings a calm, cool, and collected presence to a Toronto Maple Leafs blueline after the whirlwind experiment that was Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci last season.

His two-way abilities have been on full display through the Leafs’ first three games. Coupling his natural skill of swallowing up passing lanes, preventing odd-man rushes in the process, with a touch for creating offense, Brodie has been the perfect fit on the Leafs blueline.

Ever since he was drafted fifth overall in 2012, Morgan Rielly has been tasked with absorbing the playmaking role from Toronto’s backend. Without a partner who was particularly skilled in that area, it often felt like Rielly was being anchored down and was frequently forced to prop up his teammate.

With Brodie in the fold, the Toronto Maple Leafs #1 blueliner now has someone to outlet too and does not have to be the only defensemen that can work the breakout and effectively quarterback the cycle play in the offensive zone.

Next. Toronto Maple Leafs: Early Thoughts On the Newest Players. dark

The first seven days of the 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs have been extremely enjoyable to watch, and if it is any indication of what is to come, Leafs Nation is in for a treat.

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