The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to add a left winger, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. In a recent edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman listed various “rumblings” from across the league.
This was kind of a surprising note in Friedman's column because the Leafs have Marner, Nylander, Knies, Domi, Jarnkrok, Robertson and McMann - along with any young players like Easton Cowan or Alex Steeves who might make the team.
Friedman wrote: “I think there are things percolating out there, including Toronto considering left-wing options.”
The Leafs certainly have a lot wingers, but whether they have enough depth scoring is an entirely different conversation, and could be the clue to what they are thinking. The Leafs failed to score more than three goals in any of their playoff games, and they only scored more than two once.
The very cryptic message opens the door to plenty of speculation. Are the Leafs looking at the remaining bottom-of-the-barrel free-agent options? Are the Leafs looking to do something via trade?
Remaining alternatives for the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs can always swing a trade, and GM Brad Treliving is overdue to make one, but it's impossible to really know what might be out there. A better option for the Leafs might to be enter the season with what they have, test out some of their young players, and then act later in the season when there are more players available and they have more information about their own young players.
There isn't much left on the free-agency market, and I’ve previously written about PTO options the Leafs could consider heading into training camp. PTOs are always good low-risk alternatives, especially for veterans looking to prove they still have gas in the tank. With the Leafs need for cheap contracts to round out team depth, looking at unsigned veterans could provide a good source of talent at a discounted price, although it does block young players from getting a chance, and those players have more upside.
Vets like Mike Hoffman, Max Pacioretty, or former Leaf James van Riemsdyk come to mind. However, the flip side of the equation is: How much value can these players add to the team? Most importantly, would a veteran like Pacioretty be more valuable than giving a young prospect like Easton Cowan a chance?
I would say it depends on Cowan or Fraser Minten being ready to step into an NHL role. If these prospects are truly ready to make the leap, the team is better off going with rising stars than veterans well past their primes.
Overall, I think it’s good to see the Leafs are not done adding to the team depth is pivotal, especially as injuries pile up at certain points in the season. My hope is that the Leafs will be judicious and add players that can contribute.
Adding washed-up veterans for the sake of depth could be nothing more than taking a step back.