For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquisition of veteran center Brian Boyle from Tampa Bay on Monday filled the club’s need for a fourth line center who could win faceoffs, but represents the second time this season that GM Lou Lamoriello and head coach Mike Babcock made a change normally be considered inconsequential for a rebuilding club (the other being the backup goalie switcheroo from Jhonas Enroth to Curtis McElhinney).
The question with less than 24 hours remaining before the March 1 trade deadline is whether the Boyle deal is a sign that the Leafs have departed from the rebuild plan in Year 2 to pursue a playoff spot or whether other moves made between now and 3pm Wednesday will continue the process of adding future assets.
There is no doubt that Lamoriello and Babcock see benefits in rookies Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Connor Brown and others getting a taste of the postseason and the number of 2017 picks being dealt are indicative that the upcoming NHL Draft is not considered as strong as recent drafts, but the Leafs have areas of need more pressing than a 32-year-old faceoff specialist on an expiring contract.
Draft picks are not just adding an 18 or 19 year old to the organizational depth chart, they are currency that can be used down the line to acquire missing pieces.
For example, the first round pick acquired from Pittsburgh in the Phil Kessel deal and a second round pick acquired in either the Roman Polak or Dion Phaneuf deals were converted into goalie Frederik Andersen last June.
What is unknown is whether Lamoriello has anything cooking in terms of using the cap space created by the assigning of Joffrey Lupul, Stephane Robidas and Nathan Horton to long term injured reserve(LTIR). The Leafs absorbed all of Boyle’s $2 Million cap hit with the deal on Monday, but Toronto has over $15 Million in cap room.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Leafs would like to do more before the deadline and that using their cap space/LTIR cushion to take on contract and get assets back is a distinct possibility.
If Lamoriello does this, then Toronto will have accomplished improving their chances to make the playoffs and recouping the draft pick moved out for Boyle with clever cap management.
*******
Boyle will be in the lineup when the Leafs take on the Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Tuesday, wearing #24 previously worn this season by Peter Holland.
Tyler Bozak and Mitch Marner skated in San Jose on Monday and both are expected to make their return against the Sharks. To accommodate the addition of Boyle, defenseman Connor Carrick was placed on injured reserve.
Babcock toyed with his defensive pairings on Monday, as Alexey Marchenko skated with Morgan Rielly and Nikita Zaitsev was partnered with Jake Gardiner, but they were flipped back at the morning skate on Tuesday. Boyle is expected to play with wingers Matt Martin and Josh Leivo.
Frederik Andersen will get the start in goal for Toronto and it is expected that Martin Jones will be between the pipes for San Jose.
UPDATE - Center Frederik Gauthier has been sent to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information
click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»