Did the Toronto Maple Leafs miss an opportunity with this defenceman?

The recent signing of Oliver Kylington by the Colorado Avalanche has prompted some analysts to consider the move as a steal. The Avs signed Kylington to a one-year, $1.05 million deal, according to NHL.com.

One the surface, this deal is nothing more than a minor blip on the radar. Kylington is naught more than a depth defenceman, sliding into most teams’ bottom pair. On a deep contending club, Kylington would be a seventh or eighth blueliner at best.

So, why would some analysts call this signing a steal?

Perhaps some analysts feel that Kylington can bounce back from his personal issues and become the defenceman he was during the 2021-22 season in which he registered nine goals and 22 assists, while racking up a plus-34 rating.

While those numbers may seem encouraging, Kylington’s signing does place one specific item under the microscope: The need for depth on the blue line.

The Avs, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, are a contending club. Both teams are looking to make deep postseason runs, with Avs having produced far greater results than the Leafs.

As such, would be it fair to say that the Toronto Maple Leafs missed an opportunity with Kylington?

Well, yes and no. 31 others teams passed on Kylington until the Avs took a chance on him. The club didn’t sign him to a multi-year deal, nor did they break the bank on him. At best, this deal is a “show-me” contract that gives Kylington a chance to show he belongs in the NHL.

So, that’s a “no” to the previous question.

However, the answer is also “yes,” since Kylington could prove to be a diamond in the rough. Moreover, it highlights how it’s preferable to take a chance on a young player on a cheap contract than overpaying veterans past their prime.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Find Other Diamonds in the Rough

Colorado’s decision to take a flyer on Kylington is a strategy that cap-strapped contenders utilise to maximize return on investment. While finding young players on cheap contracts isn’t easy, there’s a huge upside to this strategy.

In the worst of cases, things don’t work out and the club is not burdened with a bloated contract for several seasons.

With that in mind, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to load up on young talent. Sure, there’s value in issuing PTOs to veterans who may have something left to prove. But the fact of the matter is that a team with a top-heavy payroll like the Leafs must dig deep to find value in unusual places.

Now, I’m not saying that the Kylington signing is a masterful stroke by Colorado. What I am saying is that if Kylington plays a full season, and can produce around 30 points, the Avs will look like geniuses.

Those are the sorts of chances Toronto needs to be taking, rather than blowing precious cap space on injury-prone defencemen clearly past their primes.