The Toronto Maple Leafs have the NHL’s second-best record (26-11-2), but unfortunately are 10 points behind the league leading Tampa Bay Lightning and at the halfway mark look to be in line for a first round matchup against either Montreal, Buffalo or the Boston Bruins.
The club’s recent five-game winning streak was due mostly to their offense averaging more than five goals per game, and the end of that streak was caused by defensive breakdowns and a subpar performance from Garret Sparks.
With less than two months until the NHL trade deadline, the question is how GM Kyle Dubas will take advantage of the empty cap space the club has this season and can they add difference makers to improve the club’s chances in the postseason. Dubas finally address the organizational need for depth between the pipes with the acquisition of Michael Hutchinson, but what other moves will the rookie GM make before February 25th.
With that in mind, we go to the wonderful world of Twitter and to the comments section to answer some of your questions about the Leafs:
Can the Leafs find a couple of defensemen before the trade deadline to give them a chance to contend for a Cup? More Grit and positional play in their own end is required.
A - Can they…..yes. Will they…..who knows. The trade that Edmonton made for Florida defenseman Alex Petrovic appears to have set the price for rental defenseman (a third round pick) and that is not a steep price if the player would be a significant upgrade over Igor Ozhiganov or Martin Marincin.
21peter (from the comments) asks “Sandin showed last night, with 2 goals and an apple, that he's on his way to be a future top 4D. Should he get his 9 games with the big club this season?”
A - There is no doubt that 2018 top pick Rasmus Sandin has shown promise and progress earlier than expected. The 18-year-old has not seem phased by the challenge of the American Hockey League and has played well for Sweden at the World Junior, but it’s unlikely that the Leafs will deviate from the development plan they’ve implemented with Travis Dermott and Timothy Liljegren.
Dermott played nearly 90 AHL games before being recalled last January, Liljegren was on pace to play a similar amount but a high ankle sprain last month likely delayed his NHL debut. Unless Sandin stuns the Leafs at next year’s training camp, the earliest you can expect to see him is the middle of next season.
29 took Dubas for every penny he could get. Will it happen again w 34 and 16?... what's 24's cap number next yr?...Dubas wants to bring in guys w term...but how do you square that with next year's cap? Who likely goes? Hainsey to be back? Sandin is good.
A - This is an understandable point of view, especially since Nylander has struggled to get going since his signing on December 1 and is making $10 Million in the first year of his six-year contract, but the Leafs took advantage of the ability of the higher cap figure in year one to make the cap hit less painful for the balance of the deal.
This helps Dubas if they keep Nylander or trade him after paying him an $8.3 Million signing bonus next July, which might be necessary to re-sign Matthews and Marner. In my opinion, Gardiner and Hainsey will not be back.
AM needs a LW like the one he had in Hyman. Is there a Hyman type out there who could be a fit for Matthews? Johnsson or Marleau are not the best fit.
A - Maybe the guy like Hyman for Matthews line is Hyman. The best combo in last year’s playoffs was Marleau and Mitch Marner….they even made an over-the-hill Tomas Plekanec look serviceable. That would give the Leafs a top three lines of Hyman-Matthews-Nylander (his move to play with #34 is inevitable), Marleau-Tavares-Marner and Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen.
Nylander, Zaitsev, Brown and Liljegren to Dallas for Benn and Klingberg. Make it happen Mike
A - Bieksa was one of my five suggestions as an inexpensive depth add on defense. He would not be a fit in the top four, but would only cost an NHL contract for the rest of the season. Although the 37-year-old’s mobility is not great, the 86 games of playoff experience could be invaluable.
My concern is on defence the leafs need to upgrade if they are to have a shot at getting out the 1st round. It’s unfortunately going to cost them big,either prospects or roster players. If you could bring 1 d man who would it be Mike??
A - If the Leafs are going to deal for a top pairing defenseman, it will likely cost them a first round pick, possibly a young NHL player and a prospect, because they will not be the only team in the bidding for blueline help. Based on Dubas comments of wanting a player with term remaining but not too much term, names like Alex Pietrangelo, Justin Faulk and Chris Tanev (all under contract through next season) fit that criteria.
If the Blues are truly open to moving Pietrangelo, that is who the Leafs should target. If his name is being floated and St. Louis has no interest in dealing the 28-year-old, then Tanev will cost much less than Faulk and more fits what type of defenseman Toronto needs.
Is the "long stretch pass" that the #Leafs are always using something that Babcock wants them to do, or is it a risky play that they are tempted to do because of all their skill? #TMLtalk#LeafsForever
A - The stretch pass is a tactic to take advantage of the Leafs speed up front, but also to prevent their defense from turning over the puck by overhandling it. It is not a coincidence that the player who uses the long bomb the most is Jake Gardiner, who often makes bad decisions in his own zone.
What's the value for Brown on the trade market? He seems to be the forgotten one
A - Brown’s value to the Leafs and Babcock is more than his value on the trade market. His $2.1 Million AAV through 2020 is a relatively low cap hit for a player so versatile and trusted by his head coach, as is the $2.25 Million being paid to Zach Hyman.
Toronto has young winger prospects on entry-level deals, but the likes of Mason Marchment, Pierre Engvall, Jeremy Bracco and Carl Grundstrom may be a year or so away. With the Leafs positioned to make a Cup run, it is unlikely they will deal a player so valued by his head coach.
I’m sure the majority of leafs nation wants up grade on D or Veteran like Niklas Kronwall & Heavy 3rd or 4th liner for push back type Chris Kreider or Justin Abdelkader..
A - Two problems with Kronwall….he plays left defense and he may not want to play for Babcock again after playing nine years for him in Detroit. Krieder is a big presence, but also leads the Rangers with 20 goals, so he will not come cheap. Abdelkader is 31, has four more years at $4.25 Million and has five goals this season, all factors that point to Toronto not being interested.
I’m sure the majority of leafs nation wants up grade on D or Veteran like Niklas Kronwall & Heavy 3rd or 4th liner for push back type Chris Kreider or Justin Abdelkader..
A - It’s a legitimate concern since that is what happened in Detroit, but that was after nine years, a Stanley Cup victory and a loss in Game 7 of a Cup Final. The most important thing for Babcock with the Leafs is getting this group to taste some success. If they do, they will be hungry for more and will accept their head coach driving them to do the things he wants.
If they encounter a couple more first round exits, the message could begin to get tuned out.
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