After letting some time go by to let the emotion dissipate from the end of the season collapse, it is time to take a look at the players, coach and management of the Toronto Maple Leafs, evaluate how they did and what their status should be with the club next season.

Defense

Jake Gardiner : There is no denying Gardiner’s offensive skills(excellent speed, good shot and playmaking ability), but the 23-year-old blueliner negates the positives at one end of the ice by proving to be a liability at the other end.

After missing significant time during the lockout-shortened season with concussion problems, Gardiner impressed and at times dominated against Boston in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that level of performance was not seen often this season.

Gardiner led Leafs defensemen with 10 goals, added 21 assists and formed an effective tandem with rookie Morgan Rielly on the second power play, but scored nearly half of his points in March and April, when the club was going through their death spiral.

The Minnesota native has shown little improvement at reducing his propensity for turning over the puck and continues to struggle with winning battles in front of the net and along the boards, which must’ve skyrocketed the blood pressure of Randy Carlyle.

A favorite of analytics aficionados, Gardiner’s possession numbers are excellent, but his overall performance(including eight games in which he was -2)is an argument in favor of those statistics being misleading.

Grade : C-

Outlook for 2014-15 – Possible holdout if the Leafs decide they will not sign him to anything more than a bridge deal, 50% trade probability if Carlyle returns as coach.

Paul Ranger: Expectations were high that the veteran blueliner could be a solid contributor as an NHL defenseman after playing well for the AHL Toronto Marlies after almost three years away from professional hockey, but the former Tampa Bay defenseman struggled getting back up to speed in the first half of the season.

After almost a month of inaction during their January/February hot streak, Ranger played regularly down the stretch when the Leafs went to an 11 forward, seven-defensemen lineup and the 29-year-old’s performance improved markedly, as he finished with six goals and eight assists in 53 games.

Grade : C-

Outlook for 2014-15 – UFA, re-signed by Toronto if willing to take a one-year league minimum deal.

Cody Franson: It’s tough to argue that a guy who led the Leafs in defensive scoring was their biggest disappointment, but that would be Cody Franson in a nutshell.

The 26-year-old signed a one-year, $2 Million contract in late September after holding out most of training camp, coming off a breakout 2013 season and a six-point performance in the playoff loss to Boston, but after moving from a bottom pairing role with the defensive minded Mark Fraser to a top four role with Jake Gardiner or rookie Morgan Rielly, Franson was exposed as a defensive liability.

The Sicamous, BC native led Toronto defensemen in assists(28), points(33) and was effective on the Leafs top power-play pairing with Dion Phaneuf until late in the season, but his lack of mobility due to a rumored hip injury contributed to Franson leading the club in negative plus/minus(-20).

Grade : D

Outlook for 2014-15 – RFA, most likely of Leafs defensemen to be traded during the summer.

Tim Gleason: Acquired in a New Year’s Day deal with Carolina for John-Michael Liles, the 31-year-old Gleason added toughness and experience on the blueline that was thin on both qualities.

More known for shot-blocking and defensive zone play, the former US Olympian scored one goal and four assists in 39 games, but showed a willingness to stick up for teammates.
Gleason was forced into playing a top-four defenseman role due to the defensive liabilities of others on the blueline and played effectively when partnered with rookie Morgan Rielly, but is likely better suited to a bottom pairing/penalty killing role.

Grade : C -

Outlook for 2014-15 – With two years left at $4 Million per season, the possibility of a buyout is there(as would have been the case with Liles if they had not traded him), but likely Gleason will be a 5th-6th defenseman.

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