When the season is over for NHL teams, they all go through an evaluation process at the end of the year. Professional and amateur meetings lead to off-season strategies and how to build the list. This is an in-depth process that has many layers.
After the Maple Leafs come out in Round 1 for the sixth season in a row, difficult questions are being asked about where they are going from here. Do they have to bring it back? Do they need to consider major changes or an entirely new approach to listing? There will be some difficult calls and no easy answers for them.
So we will do our own evaluation at the end of the year of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The following is an unbiased analysis of Toronto’s list and potential moves that could help them overcome the hump in 2022-23.
Hockey operations
The Toronto Maple Leafs front office has implemented a vision of how they want to build and stick to their list and organization. Brendan Shanahan obviously has the trust of the property and in addition Kyle Dubas has the trust of Shanahan. The team has come a long way in the last few years and has just had a record regular season. So the Leafs are a great team, but the playoff results have not yet arrived and in the end no one remembers or cares how many wins you will win in the regular season if there is no success in the playoffs that follow.
At the end of the day, the teams are judged on what they do in the post-season.
Adding a new or two votes to the hockey operations department will broaden the views and opinions of the current management team. It is never a good idea for any organization, professional sports or business, to have only like-minded people in the whole structure. The new voices will pause reflection, perhaps present new ideas, and potentially add a layer to decision-making strategies at the front office.
There is no doubt that Toronto Maple Leafs need more than certain slots in their range. The status quo does not surpass them. It’s time to rethink things and make some bold moves this off-season.
2021-22 ANALYSIS OF THE LIST OF MAPLE LEAVES
Goalkeeping
Jack Campbell: After a great start to the season, he suffered a long decline and dealt with injuries. He was not exceptional in the playoffs, but he was certainly not a weak link. His job was acceptable to a goalkeeper who has not played as many games (49) in an NHL season.
He is not the number 1 goalkeeper who will play 65 games. He will always need a strong partner. But Campbell won the opportunity to return and he is a solid teammate. The next step will be to determine its value as a pending UFA and reach an agreement to sign it with a reasonable extension. Leafs’ problem is that UFA’s goalkeeper market is rather weak this off-season, which will give Campbell more control to dictate his salary expectations.
UFA goalkeepers this summer currently include Miko Koskinen, Jonas Korpisalo, Martin Jones, Thomas Grice, Jaroslav Halak, Pavel Frankuz and Braden Holtby.
There are two deviations here: Marc-Andre Flori and Darcy Kumper. They will receive salaries above what you would like to be a 1B goalkeeper and would be more appropriate as an option 1A position. If the Leaves went this way with one of them, it would exclude Campbell from the plans.
Eric Calgren: He gave the team some stability in step. He won the right to fight for position number 2, but another year in the AHL will not harm his development. If he stays in the NHL, he will have $ 750,000 AAV.
Petr Mrazek: It didn’t work out. It will not happen. Even when he is healthy, his “athletic / active” style does not suit the way this team plays. My trust in Mrazek is very low and there may be a buyout.
What would the purchase of Petr Mrazek look like according to Cap Friendly.
Defenders
This is an interesting dilemma in which the team finds itself with its defensive core. Four of the defending defenders have either trade ban, partial trade ban or movement ban in their contracts. Kyle Dubas is a stand-up man who is true to his word with his players. There will have to be some difficult discussions here.
Morgan Riley: Potentially a lifelong maple leaf. He had a fantastic year on the offensive and played every game, scoring 10 goals and 68 points, while scoring over 23 minutes average time on the ice. In general, his defense will always be average. Signed with a long-term extension with a full traffic ban clause until 2028, his AAV is a highly respected $ 7.5 million from next season. His identity, coming to the league, was that of a transitional defender who can quarterback in a strong game and he plays with that identity.
TJ Brodie: Perhaps their most valuable defender. Brody carries a little secondary offense and plays hard minutes. He is a solid defender, moves well and can play left or right. Signed in 2023-2024 with an AAV of $ 5 million, Brody has a trade-off clause next season and a modified 10-team trade-off clause next year.
Jake Mouzin: Injuries took his season off. He knows his body best, but the shocks are scary, especially for players at this stage of his career. Assuming he’s healthy, he’ll be back next season, but maybe in a smaller role. He is not the same player he was. The declining number of offensives and slow play periods are a concern, but it could be used as number 5 with equal force. It also has a trade ban clause for 2022-23 and a modified list of 10 trade ban teams for 2023-24. His AAV is $ 5.625 million, the second highest among returning blue players.
IIya Lyubushkin: A right-winger who plays for the identity of being one of Toronto’s more physical defenders. It’s not really one of the first four options, but it does bring some punches and grind to the bottom pair. Upcoming UFA, his return will depend on the price, but he is an internal goal. Last year’s salary was $ 1.35 million, and if it makes sense in terms of dollars, it should definitely be kept.
Timothy Lilegren: There is no doubt that he has taken steps. He is still only 23 years old. His management of the game is more reliable, he is ready for regular duty and now it seems that he can contribute to a strong game in the NHL. It will be an affordable option like RFA. In 61 games of the regular season Lillegren scored five goals and 23 points and although these statistics do not jump from the page, I have the feeling that there is something else on the horizon for him. However, I do not believe that there is enough space for both Lillegren and Sandin with the way the list is compiled. It is time to test the waters for potential trade.
Rasmus Sandin: A two-way, transitional defender who can be used in power play, Sandin is another RFA at the back of the Leafs. which will be available at your next transaction. It needs more volume. There are nights when Sandin turns the puck at the wrong time, but he is a year younger than Lillegren and is generally on a more reliable path. In 51 games this season, he scored five goals and 16 points. Sandin has the potential to be a distributor of the second Power Play unit.
Justin Hall: He still has enough play to be a regular in the NHL, but when things went a little off track for him this year, it took him a while to get back on track. Hall will enter the final year of his contract in 2022-23 before becoming eligible for the UFA. It will be available to other teams in a $ 2 million AAV trading scenario, although its modified list of 10 non-trading teams will make it more difficult. Still, it’s time to find a deal.
Mark Giordano: He provided solid minutes for Toronto and it was clear that he had an impact. There may only be one more year (maybe two) in the tank and there is an upcoming UFA. If the salary makes sense, it carries a value as a defender № 4 or 5 depending on the composition of the group around him. After a while, his attack may dry up, but he still scored eight goals and 35 points in 75 games this season, averaging more than 20 minutes on ice.
Forward
Auston Matthews: Signed by 2023-2024 for AAV $ 11.64 million. There is no need to go overboard with the analysis of this. He is not going anywhere and will have to be part of the decision.
Mitch Marner: Signed $ 20.9 million by 2024-2025. You don’t need to analyze this one too much. He will also not go anywhere and will have to be part of overcoming this team.
John Tavares: Signed until 2024-2025 with a full traffic ban clause and an AAV of $ 11 million.
A move to the Tavares wing should be considered. His skating is too much of a concern to play an entire 200-foot match as a centerpiece. His best work comes from the hashtags down and in front of the net in the attack zone. He can also take key matches in the three zones. He is here to stay, so the team will have to build support around him on whatever line he takes.
William Nylander: Elite skill. High class pace. Pure crime. Nylander wasn’t weak in the playoffs, but it took him a while to get started. His attention to detail and unwillingness to go to difficult areas and win battles can infuriate you. He must receive a signing bonus on July 1 ($ 3.5 million) and then make $ 2.5 million in actual salary next season. He is owed the same bonus and salary for 2023-24. Sometimes you have to trade hockey and there will be buyers for its services. If the right deal can be found, it’s time.
Alexander Kerfut: Playing fast and fast, Kerfut can be used in different roles and he had a very good year in the offensive with 13 goals and 51 points in 82 games. The Leafs could have used more of him against Tampa Bay in the playoffs, but his work contributed to their record regular season. He is a valuable player for them, making a manageable $ 3.5 million for another season.
Ilya Mikheev: He is an upcoming UFA, coming out of …
Add Comment