Toronto Maple Leafs Added Right Type of Depth This Summer

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost the majority of their secondary scoring this off-season. However, new GM Brad Treliving has done a fine job replacing those departed players with the right type of depth players.

Some will argue that the Toronto Maple Leafs are a worse team now than before free agency started. After-all, they lost a significant set of depth players, and short of lightning striking twice, there is little they could have done to replace Michael Bunting’s performance for just 900K.

That said, adding Ryan Reaves, Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and John Klingberg addresses areas of weakness. Treliving stated that the Leafs needed more toughness to their lineup. Well, now they have it.

Each player brings something different yet helpful. Anyone already throwing in the towel on this Leafs lineup should calm down. How about we wait and see how these players mesh with our current group before we throw them under the bus? Players play differently on different teams and have different roles throughout their careers. How do we know these players won’t thrive in Toronto? We don’t.

I think it’s fair to wait until American Thanksgiving in November before passing judgment on the new players. They will need time to adjust to their new team. I have faith that these new additions are going to work out well. If Treliving still feels that something is missing, he can add a player or two at the NHL trade deadline.

What The Toronto Maple Leafs Newest Players Offer

Whether it’s grit, scoring, or physicality, each of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ newest players brings something the team needs.

Tyler Bertuzzi – Replaces Michael Bunting

Bertuzzi is the type of player you love having on your team but hate playing against. Fans can expect him to play hard and battle for loose pucks. Don’t be surprised if he scores most of his goals from within inches of the opposing goaltender. He likes to hang around the blue paint, digging for loose pucks or burying rebounds.

Bertuzzi registered eight goals and 30 points in 50 games during an injury-filled 2022-23 season. He recorded 30 goals and 62 points the previous season, so don’t count out his ability to add secondary scoring.  (Stats from hockey-reference.com)

Max Domi – Replaces Alex Kerfoot

Max Domi gives the Toronto Maple Leafs some flexibility in their lineup. He can play the left wing within the top six or be the center for the third line. I expect that we’ll see him play both. Domi doesn’t play an overly physical game but doesn’t shy away from confrontation. Fans can expect him to stick up for his teammates.

Domi registered 20 goals and 36 assists for 56 points in 80 games last season. He is not just an average depth signing. He will contribute big points to this team.

John Klingberg – Replaces Justin Holl

John Klingberg will provide the Leafs with something they didn’t get much of last season, scoring from their defense. After Morgan Rielly, the Leafs’ defense group did not produce much offense. Klingberg registered ten goals and 23 assists for 33 points in 67 games last season. He will offer Leafs’ head coach the option to have a scoring defenseman on each power-play unit.

Ryan Reaves – Replaces Wayne Simmonds

Ryan Reaves is here for one reason, and one reason only, to keep the other team in line. He knows his role, and he does it well. Should the team need a spark, expect Reaves to land a big hit or get into a fight. Teams will be less likely to try any funny business, knowing Reaves is on the other side.

Combining all these different skill sets with what the Leafs already have could be a match made in heaven. It takes all kinds of different pieces to win, and Toronto could finally have the right mix.