How Much Better Are the Toronto Maple Leafs After Free Agency?
With July 1st now behind us and most of the big name free agents now signed, it's safe to say the Leafs roster has had a big turnover since they were elminated from the playoffs. But how much better has the team gotten?
The Toronto Maple Leafs were one of the NHL's busiest teams during last Monday's Free Agent Frenzy.
Additions were made, notable players were re-signed, and multiple roster players from last year have played their last game in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform.
While some clear weaknesses were addressed, and most of the signings were received well, a clear question still remains.
How much did the Toronto Maple Leafs actually improve?
How Much Better Are the Toronto Maple Leafs After Free Agency?
Forwards:
Up front, the Leafs re-signed Max Domi and made qualifying offers to Connor Dewar, Alex Steeves, and Nick Robertson. While nothing has been confirmed, it's safe to say both Dewar and Steeves will be returing to the team next year.
Robertson, however, is a different story. The 22-year old had a solid 14 goals and 27 points in just 56 games this past season. After being continuously scratched and getting little ice-time, Robertson recently requested a trade.
Again, while nothing has been confirmed, it's more than likely he will be traded in the coming months.
Along with Robertson likely leaving, forward Tyler Bertuzzi signed a 4-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. While this was likely the right choice to let him walk, the Leafs will need to find a way to replace the 35 combined goals scored by Robertson and Bertuzzi.
A guy like Easton Cowan can help replace those goals, as well as the continued progression of Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann. But apart from AHLer Cedric Pare, the Leafs forward group gained no new additions.
The Leafs have no issue scoring during the regular season, but scoring in the playoffs has been their downfall for two seasons in a row, and this issue will need to be addressed at some point sooner or later.
Defense:
This is the area that the Leafs needed to address the most, and they sure did.
Timothy Liljegren was re-signed, a (move that I am on board with), and Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson were added.
Both of these new additions bring something the Leafs defense group desperately needed. Tanev brings his superb shot-blocking ability and his reputation as one of the top shutdown defensemen in the entire NHL. While Ekman-Larsson brings more of an all-around game with some much needed mobility and the ability to play on the second power play unit.
While I like both players and their respective AAVs, I do have an issue with their contract length.
Ekman-Larsson will be making $3.5 million until he's 37 years old (four more years), and Tanev will be making $4.5 million until he's 40 (six more years).
The terms of both of these contracts are not ideal, however, both players bring something to the team that was desperately missing last year.
The defense group is an improvement and one of the best we've seen in the Matthews-Marner era.
Goaltending:
Anthony Stolarz was the marquee addition between the pipes for the Leafs, as well as extending Joseph Woll for three more seasons.
The Leafs are taking a chance here on two goaltenders who have been very strong in the NHL with limited playing time but neither have been full-time starters at any point in their careers in the big leagues.
Stolarz did play 47 AHL games back in 2016 but has yet to play more than 28 in one NHL season. While Woll only has 36 NHL regular season games to his name.
The Leafs may have failed to acquire a star goalie such as Jacob Markstrom or Juuse Saros via trade, but the tandem of Woll and Stolarz isn't bad at all.
They're a cheap duo and have potential to be one of the top tandems in the NHL.
Final Verdict:
I believe the Leafs are a better team than the group that lost to the Boston Bruins this past playoff year.
The forward group may need an addition or two (or just some further growth from Knies or Cowan), but it is still a strong group nonetheless.
The defense looks far better than last year and no longer looks like a liability. And in between the pipes, the tandem of Woll and Stolarz make be risky, but has potential to be great if it works out.
The team is not perfect, but they are improved, and should have no problem getting back to winning 50+ games again.
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Let's see if they can do it.