The Best and worst moves by the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason
So what have the Maple Leafs done well and not so well in this offseason?
In preparation for the 2024-25 NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs made various moves during the offseason with hopes that they would give them the best chance at success for the coming year.
Whether it was the signing of players, the changing of management personnel, or just the exodus of players that were no longer needed, the Toronto Maple Leafs tried to put themselves in the best possible position to be legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup.
Looking back at the relevant transactions made, some of them would be considered great moves, whereas some others might not actually turn out so good in the long run for the Leafs.
As a result, let’s take a look at the best and worst moves made by the Maple Leafs during this offseason and how it may impact the team going forward.
The Best and worst moves by the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason
Best Move: The Hiring of Craig Berube
Following year after year of playoff failure for the Leafs, it was about time that a major change be made in the coaching front to give this team a new approach and hockey culture. By relieving Sheldon Keefe of his duties and bringing in Craig Berube as his successor, the Leafs have now done exactly that. As a former Maple Leaf during his playing days, Berube knows exactly how hungry and starved the franchise is for a Stanley Cup title. If there’s anyone that could bring a team that seemed destined for failure and turn it into a championship-calibre group, Berube is certainly the right one to do it.
After all, one just has to look back to the 2018-19 NHL season when he took over an underachieving, bottom-feeding St. Louis Blues team and took them all the way to a Cup title. They also did so riding on the back of a young, solid goalie. Hopefully Berube can now do the same with this current Maple Leafs team, who also happens to have a young, solid goalie, and help finally end one of the longest title droughts in sports history.
Worst Move: The Four-Year Deal for Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson
As a former 20+ goal scorer and 40+ point-getter with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was certainly one of the best offensive defenseman in the NHL during his prime. So when the Leafs went out this summer to sign the 14-year veteran to help boost their defense corps for the upcoming season, it seemed like a great move by the organization. The only caveat though was the fact that the four-year, $18 million deal may be just a few years too many.
One has to remember that it wasn’t too long ago when Ekman-Larsson appeared to be on the decline in just the previous four seasons prior to joining the Florida Panthers last year. It actually got so bad that the Vancouver Canucks had to buy him out to move on from him after the 2022-23 season. With the defensively-strong Panthers team last season, they were able to give Ekman-Larsson sheltered minutes to help maximize his overall effectiveness in his game. As a result, his renewed success enabled him to put together his best year in almost over half a decade.
But with the Leafs likely to prop him into a top-four role, similar to what they tried with John Klingberg just last season, they better hope that the 33-year-old will become more prime Mark Giordano than what Klingberg became of last year. But unlike Klingberg, whom the Leafs were able to let go after the underwhelming season, Ekman-Larsson would be tied down to many more years even if he fails to perform. As a result, the Leafs could regret badly in their decision and potentially even be in buyout territory in due time.
Best Move: The Signing of Defenseman Chris Tanev
Perhaps a move that many fans have been desperately wanting for years, the Leafs finally brought home one of the best defensive defenseman in the game in Chris Tanev during free agency this offseason.
In signing the six-foot-two, 190-plus pound defensive monster, it essentially gives top-pairing defenseman Morgan Rielly his strongest partner he has ever had during his tenure with Toronto.
If one actually recalled how Rielly took off with his offensive game when he was paired back then with the defensively-minded veteran Ron Hainsey, just imagine how his game could massively jump to unbelievable levels with a partner like Tanev. Think Erik Karlsson and Marc Methot back in their days with the Ottawa Senators.
Although one may argue that Tanev’s six-year deal could become a huge albatross as it reaches the latter years of the contract, it was certainly needed to convince the defensive stalwart that the Leafs were in it to win it.
Considering that his entire contract totalled $27 million, for an elite defenseman like Tanev that could have potentially demanded over $6 million a year, if the Leafs get at least four good years out of him, it should be more than worth it.
But, all that said, there is no guarantee they even get one good year out of him. At his age, all NHL players are capable - even likely - to fall off the preverbial cliff. As long as Tanev keeps Father Time at bay, this is a good move, but it has the potential to be terrible at any time.
Worst Move: The Three-Year Extension for Goalie Joseph Woll
With the Leafs moving on from Ilya Samsonov following the 2023-24 season, Woll undeniably was expected to take over the team’s starting goalie role for 2024-25.
To show that the organization was committed to making that transition, Woll was given a hefty three-year, $10.98 million contract extension back in early July.
Despite a small sample size, Woll has surely shown that he was capable to play at an elite level whenever he minded the crease. In fact, the stability he is able to provide in net reminded many Leafs fans of the Ed Belfour and even Curtis Joseph days. So his huge bump in salary and years of commitment were well-deserved right?
However, the key part was exactly that, he was amazing whenever he ACTUALLY played. Despite being with the Leafs for parts of the past three seasons, he has been met with injuries for a fair chunk of that tenure.
In particular, Woll missed almost three critical months last season with a high ankle sprain, and once again fell to an injury in the playoffs when the team needed him most for the deciding Game 7 against the Boston Bruins. Until he can prove that he is no longer injury-prone the massive investment that the Leafs have already made in him certainly comes with a huge risk that might not end up paying off.
There is also the other end of the spectrum to consider. The Leafs have overpaid Woll on the basis that if they are right, they get some very reliable, very cheap goaltending. The problem though, is that the contract doesn't run long enough to make the potential payoff high enough. If the Leafs are right and Woll is successful, they'll only get three cheap years but you could argue that they should have gotten more potentially cheap years to make the bet worthwhile.
Best Move: The Naming of Auston Matthews as Team Captain
Many probably expected it to be a long time coming, but Auston Matthews was finally handed the keys to captaincy for the team this offseason, as he takes over from long-serving John Tavares.
Some might have expected it to come the upcoming year instead when Tavares contract is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. But with the drastic change in management personnel this offseason, the timing couldn’t have come at a better time to get the entire team a new inspiring, refreshing start.
With Matthews’ voice in his new role in the locker room, it could significantly help build on the team’s renewed chemistry and focus for the upcoming year as a result. (All stats from NHL.com and salaries from puckpedia.com)
On top of that, Matthews has been already front and center leading the team in many ways for the past few seasons. With his exceptional offensive abilities, now combined with his elite defensive prowess, together with the new hitting element he has added to his dynamic game, he practically could lead by example whenever he takes the ice with his teammates.
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Added to the fact that he always seems to know exactly what to say and make those around him better, this is exactly what the team needs to get them to the next level and beyond.