3 Toronto Maple Leafs Defense Prospects That Could Make The NHL Next Year

The Toronto Maple Leafs, as evidenced by this past season, have a clear need on defense.

This will especially be true with some of the question marks involving the Toronto Maple Leafs crease next year.

Currently, there are four defensemen under contract for next season. Morgan Rielly is one and with a no-movement clause seems to be a slam dunk for the roster.

As well, Jake McCabe and Simon Benoit seem to be locks for the opening night lineup, barring injury. While Connor Timmins is also under contract for one more year.

McCabe is on a sweetheart deal that pays him only $2 million due to salary retention, while Benoit just signed a three-year extension in March paying him $1.35 million.

This seems to have the left-side of their blueline accounted for heading into next year. Connor Timmins is entering the final year of his contract that pays him $1.1 million.

He is the only right-handed defender on the backend under contract and seems to be the only one who will likely occupy the right side as of right now.

The Leafs are going to make a couple of trades and are likely to sign a free-agent or two. But they also have some room to try and break in some of their prospects next season.

Here are three who have a shot at making the NHL next year.