Forward Depth Probably the Toronto Maple Leafs Biggest Strength

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had more players taken from them from waivers than any other team over the last few seasons.

In recent years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been the NHL’s deepest team (which is hilarious considering they were never supposed to be able to sign all their young stars, then they were never going to be able to compete with their top heavy roster) losing players like Michael Amadio, Adam Brooks, Ryan Dzingle, Jimmy Vesey, Travis Boyd, and others.

Once again this year, the Leafs will likely  lose players on waivers.

That is because, once again, they are arguably the NHL’s deepest team. They have nine NHL defenseman, and will likely lose one or two on waivers at some point.

They are also insanely deep at the forward position, which is one of their biggest strengths as a team.

Toronto Maple Leafs Forward Depth Unparalleled

Matthews centering Bunting and Marner is the NHL’s best line.  You could argue about it, but if it’s not the best, then it’s indistinguishable from whatever the best line is.

Same goes with the Tavares/Nylander line.  If any teams are matching it, the difference is microscopic.  The Leafs are among two or three teams with the best top-six players in hockey.  I doubt anyone would even debate it.

Alex Kerfoot scored at what is a first-line rate last year, while providing excellent defense.  If there is a better fourth-best winger on any team in the NHL, I am not aware of them.

Their third line was the best shutdown line in hockey last year.  Kampf/Engvall played the hardest minutes in hockey and came out ahead of the competition.  If anything, subbing Jarnkrok for Mikheyev makes this line even better.

What the Leafs have is a top-nine group of forwards that is among the top two or three in the league easily, and very likely the best.

Things get crazy on the fourth line, where there are about 100 players trying for four jobs (probably only two because Robertson and Aube-Kabel are likely going to make the team). For now, we must consider Kerfoot as locked in to the 2LW spot, even though in a previous article it was convenient to imagine Robertson had already won that position. (I expect they will move Kerfoot before the season starts, but for now lets assume he stays).

The fourth line has many candidates:

Nick Robertson, Nick Aube-Kabel, Nick Abruzzese, Alex Steeves, Kyle Clifford, Joey Anderson, Wayne Simmonds and Adam Gaudette are the main ones.

With just those players, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have a surplus of above-average NHL players, and will be sitting players every night (or losing them to waivers) who are better than the players on most other team’s 3rd and 4th lines.

Quite simply, anyone who complains about the Leafs forward depth doesn’t know what they are talking about.  Adam Gaudette isn’t an all-star and he isn’t going to pop off for 25 goals, but he’s a significant step up from what most teams put out.

Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds are on contract and will have a hard time making this team, and yet, if they do, they are still above average 4th liners.

Therefore, this is a really deep team.

Sure, there isn’t a lot of name-brand recognition when it comes to fourth line, but that is on purpose – the Leafs need to be able to offer jobs to the likes of Robertson, Steeves and Abruzzese if they force their way onto the team.

I haven’t even mentioned Ty Voight, Roni Hirvonen or Pontus Holmberg three more players with a shot at making the team.

Again, these aren’t name-brand players, but if any rookie beats out a vet on this team, its because that rookie is awesome, and he will be much better than a normal fourth liner.

Concerns about the Toronto Maple Leafs 4th line are completely ridiculous. I don’t know that they will have the best 4th line in the NHL, but they might.  They definitely have one of the best ones, and if Aube-Kabel is as good as they hope in an expanded role, or if one of their rookies forces their way aboard, it likely will be the best.

Pro hockey players who aren’t stars are very, very close to each other in terms of talent level.  There is a slight edge to be gained if a team’s 4th line is superior to other team’s 4th lines, but it is marginal at best.

The difference between the NHL’s best and worst 4th lines is likely a single win or less.  Star players win hockey games, and drive results.  The reason the Leafs are so successful, despite a frozen salary cap for nearly four years, is because they understand that money spent on the bottom six is a complete waste.

With that said, potentially an Abruzzese-Aube Kubel – Steeves is very exciting and could do a lot of damage.  The Leafs have several young players who should break through this year and leave them from having to rely on vets like Clifford and Simmonds.

Regardless, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still one of, if not the very deepest team(s) in the NHL.  And forward depth is one of their biggest strengths.