Coming into an offseason following their first playoff series win since 2004, the Toronto Maple Leafs had 10 UFAs set to test the market, resigning just one of those players in David Kampf.
Breaking down the Toronto Maple Leafs roster from the end of April to now has been done by many, but it’s not the right move.
While there’s still time for the team to continue adding to their roster, the Leafs still have plenty of holes to fill unfortunately.
As of today, the team has added four players in forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and Ryan Reaves along with polarizing defensemen John Klingberg.
Judge the Toronto Maple Leafs Roster at the Trade Deadline, Not Now
Although the roster looks very different and, quite frankly, weaker than the roster that beat the Tampa Bay Lightning at the end of April, there are plenty of reasons for Toronto Maple Leafs fans to calm down and judge this franchise and Brad Treliving once the NHL Trade Deadline passes mid-season.
Taking a look back on the 2022-23 season and the differences between the rosters on opening night and after the trade deadline, the team’s biggest offseason signings were names like Calle Jarnkrok, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, Zach Aston-Reese, and a pair of goalies in Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov.
Breaking down that list, Murray, Reese, and Kubel made little to no impact on the 2022 season, while Jarnkrok and Samsonov turned out to be good signings at their dollar amount but far from elite adds.
From opening night to the trade deadline, the Maple Leafs roster saw the team add Ryan O’Reilly, Luke Schenn, Noel Acciari, Sam Lafferty, Jake McCabe, Erik Gustaffson, and shortly after, a college signee, Matthew Knies.
Doing the simple math, that’s adding seven players who would play a role during the team’s first playoff series win in 19 years, showing a positive sign for those quick to judge the current make-up of the team heading into the 2023-24 season. In comparison, the offseason adds are on a different stratosphere when just considering the two top forward adds, two guys with 60-point seasons in their past who bring a different element and versatility to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top six.
Though I’m not a big fan of the adds of Ryan Reaves and John Klingberg, it’s impossible to ignore that the Leafs will be a tougher team to play against and will add to an already high-scoring team, with Klingberg having a 67-point season in his past and Reaves being known as the ultimate fighter in the NHL.
If all goes wrong with both players, the Leafs could always open up to the idea of trading Klingberg and putting Reaves on waivers or in the minors, costing them little to nothing under the salary cap. The former Anaheim Ducks D-man was just traded at this past deadline for a 4th, a prospect, and an NHL player, giving the Leafs an avenue to get out of the Klingberg business if all goes wrong.
Could the Maple Leafs have done better? Sure. I probably wouldn’t have signed a 37-year-old to a three-year deal when his career high in points in 20, but the front office is showing fans they’re committed to something different, and there has to be something said about being bold and trying something different.