4 UFA Defenseman Toronto Maple Leafs Should Target
The Toronto Maple Leafs could benefit from adding another defenseman this offseason.
Although the Toronto Maple Leafs defense was much improved last year, there’s no reason they shouldn’t look to upgrade it. Especially, if they lose Justin Holl in the Expansion Draft.
If Holl goes to Seattle, that’ll leave the team with only four legitimate NHL defenseman under contract. Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, T.J. Brodie and Rasmus Sandin are all set to be in the top-six next year, while many fans hope that Timothy Liljegren can make a jump to become an everyday player. If Holl stays and Liljegren is a top-six calibre defenseman, your defensive issues are solved.
You may want to bring in a veteran defenseman, similar to Zach Bogosian, to help support the defense, but for the most part, you’re set. However, I’m still not sure about Liljegren and I think the organization feels similar.
After getting drafted in 2017, he still hasn’t established himself as an everyday player. Maybe this is his year to do it, but we’ll have to wait until training camp to figure that out. In the meantime, the Leafs should be looking at the free agency market to find another blue-liner to fill the gap of losing Travis Dermott, Zach Bogosian and potentially Justin Holl.
Running the exact same defensive-core back for another season wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but if there is someone else available on a cheap contract, the Leafs should explore it. Here are four defenseman that the Toronto Maple Leafs should pursue.
No. 4: Marc Staal
The 34-year-old from Thunder Bay, ON would be a perfect fit on the Leafs blue-line, as a third-pairing left-handed defenseman.
With 948 career games of experience, he would more than likely blend well beside the young Rasmus Sandin. As your typical stay-at-home-defenseman, Staal would be able to sit back, while Sandin could use his legs to rush the puck up the ice and get involved in the play.
They would be a balanced fit and Staal would also bring a wealth of knowledge to the roster, as he tries to win his first career Stanley Cup. Toronto doesn’t need a defenseman who can score. Sandin and Rielly can carry both of the powerplays, while the rest of the defenseman need to be hard to play against. Staal would be able to fill the gap of Bogosian and be a reliable player every night.
Also, at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, he brings a size-element that this Leafs roster doesn’t particularly have. If the Leafs can get Staal for $2.5M or less, I think that would be a worth-while move for them. Anything over that and you may as well start Liljegren every night and use your money on the offense.
No. 3: Alex Edler
Edler mentioned that he plans to play his 15th career NHL season next year, but he hasn’t quite said where yet. It would be safe to assume that he would like to return to Vancouver, but who really knows if they want him back.
Although he’s the franchise leader in points, among defenseman, they’re not ready to win a Stanley Cup. At 35-years-old, Edler may want to play for a team that has a better chance at winning, like the Leafs.
Edler is only two years removed from scoring 10 goals in an NHL season, but the Leafs wouldn’t be pursuing him for his offense. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, the team could use his size and defensive ability as a third-pairing defenseman.
Based on his age, Edler could find himself in a great role as a third-pairing defenseman and would be a great mentor to Rasmus Sandin. Since Edler and Sandin are both from Sweden, there may be a connection there to help Sandin adjust to the NHL as a full-time player.
I’m not saying that any other defenseman couldn’t do that, but they may have more things in common, than any other free agent. Regardless, anytime a veteran defenseman like Edler becomes available, it makes sense to pursue him and potentially sign him, if the money is right.
No. 2: Alec Martinez
The price will probably be too high for Martinez, but you never know. With the cap not staying the same for the foreseeable future, a team may be able to get someone like Martinez cheaper than expected.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion is an offensive-threat, who seems to play his best hockey in the postseason. At 33-years-old, he’d be a great fit on the third-pairing of the Leafs defense and could eventually take over a top-two pairing spot if Morgan Rielly doesn’t re-sign next season.
The Golden Knights are incredibly tight to the salary cap right now, so it seems unlikely that Martinez would return to Vegas.
After winning two Stanley Cups and potentially a third this year, I’m sure he’d love to stay in a winning environment and play with a former teammate like Jack Campbell and Jake Muzzin.
As a result, Toronto should pursue him and find out his asking price. If he’s looking for something around $5M, it may make sense to trade Rielly and replace him with Martinez, since Rielly will more than likely be gone in one year anyway.
No. 1: Zdeno Chara
After dominating the Leafs for so many years on Boston, it would be awesome to see Chara in a Leafs uniform, despite his age. Until Chara officially retires from the NHL, I will assume that he can compete and play.
At 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, his size will always make him an important player on the ice and he’ll always be able to help your team, no matter his age. Even though he’s 44-years-old, there’s no doubt in my mind that he can play again next year and be effective.
As the third-pairing guy beside Rasmus Sandin, Chara would be a brilliant player to learn from. It’s not every day that you can add a former Norris Trophy winner and future Hockey Hall of Famer to the roster, so if Chara wants to continue to play, Toronto should 100 percent pursue him.
Over the past few years, Toronto has continued to try to add veterans to the dressing room, to counteract the youth, but it’s yet to work. Whether it was Patrick Marleau or Joe Thornton, it didn’t help get them past the first round, but maybe Chara could.
Chara actually has won a Stanley Cup before, unlike the two others, and knows what it takes to win. In a limited role on the third-pair, he could be a great fit for the youngsters in the Toronto Maple Leafs room and could help this team a lot.
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Also, he’d more than likely sign a league-minimum contract, which would be a huge bonus to the roster.