With the destination of John Tavares still up in the air, there has been some criticism of the Toronto Maple Leafs focusing so much on the free agent center and not on their glaring need on the blueline. The problem is that a defenseman held in the same regard as Tavares almost never reaches free agency and will likely not in the summer of 2019, when their promised to be a bumper crop of top pairing blueliners on the open market.
Arizona reportedly agreed to an eight-year extension with Oliver Ekman-Larsson at $8.25 Million AAV with a no movement clause prior to the NHL Draft, Tampa Bay is likely to extend blueliner Ryan McDonagh after trading a package of draft picks and prospects to acquire him and forward JT Miller from the NY Rangers at the trade deadline and reports from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun and the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta indicate that the Los Angeles Kings are working on a eight-year deal to keep defenseman Drew Doughty in Southern California.
That leaves two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson (who could be traded this summer or before the trade deadline by the Sens and that team would have the inside track on re-signing him), Winnipeg’s Tyler Myers, a group of 30+ year old defenders (Anton Stralman, Jay Bouwmeester, Alex Edler, Niklas Hjalmarsson) and Jake Gardiner.
Waiting for defensemen to get to free agency is an exercise of futility and if by some miracle one does reach July 1, they will be signed to an amount well above their true value because multiple teams will drive the price up. The most likely avenue to bolster the blueline is through a trade.
Leafs GM Kyle Dubas touched base with Gardiner’s agent Pat Brisson in Dallas last weekend likely to find out the perimeters of what the blueliner (who turns 28 on July 4) will be looking for on a new deal.
If Gardiner is amenable to staying in Toronto and giving them a discount, then an extension could be signed after July 1. If the price tag is closer to what the 52-point scorer would get on the open market, then it is possible that the Leafs would deal the Minnesota native before the season or the trade deadline to get some return, which they did not do by keeping James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak.
The final determination of Tavares destination could be a factor in the Leafs pursuit of blueline help. If the 27-year-old signs with Toronto, it would give them one of the best center corps in the NHL with Auston Matthews, Tavares and Nazem Kadri. The addition of Tavares could allow Dubas to move Kadri for defensive help, but his contract and cap hit ($4.5 Million AAV) are a bargain for a two-time 30 goal scorer.
The more likely result would be to move restricted free agent William Nylander. The 22-year-old is expecting to get paid after consecutive 61-point seasons and after paying Tavares and extending Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner next summer, it is likely the Leafs will not have room to pay another big salary up front, but they could use the speedy playmaker to acquire a young defenseman who can be retained for multiple years.
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There continues to be little news coming out of the Tavares camp regarding a decision on where the free agent center will go. The Athletic’s Arthur Staple reported on Thursday that if the Mississauga native leaves the New York Islanders, that the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs would be the two top options, but that did not exclude the possibility that the 27-year-old would opt to re-sign in Brooklyn.
Will keep you posted with the latest….
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Leafs 2018 top pick Rasmus Sandin participated in his first scrimmage on Thursday and is working on aspects of his game at the club’s development camp this week.
“(I’m working on) the smaller details, those crossover moves and how you are supposed to use your sticks a little bit more” Sandin said.
The 18-year-old blueliner still has not determined where he will play in the fall, whether it be for Rogle in the SHL or returning to Sault Ste. Marie, but Sandin will be heading to Kamloops, BC next month to play for Sweden in the 2018 World Junior Summer Showcase.
The goal for Sandin will be to be in the mix for his country for the 2019 WJC in Vancouver and it is possible that the 2018 first rounder could play with Leafs 2017 top pick Timothy Liljegren, who will still be eligible at 19 years old next December.
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