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With the focus of most of the hockey world on Pittsburgh and the start of the Stanley Cup Final between the Penguins and Nashville Predators on Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs are concentrating on the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo this week and their off-season plans for improving on the squad that surprisingly made the playoffs after finishing 30th in 2016.
It is time for your questions from the world of Twitter:
A – The 2017 Draft is strong in two positions; center and defense, which are both positions that the Leafs need to address organization depth at.
Toronto has Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak for another year (as well as William Nylander capable of shifting to the middle), but other than the injured Frederik Gauthier, they have no NHL ready options up the middle.
The need on defense is more immediate, which may be solved by trades or free agent signings, but the Leafs do not have a legitimate top-four blueline prospect other than Travis Dermott and possibly Andrew Nielsen.
My opinion is that Toronto could trade up slightly if the defenseman they want is still on the board in the teens, but if they cannot do that, they will take the best available blueliner at #17.
A – The best options for fourth line center other than Boyle (who might be willing to re-sign with Toronto if they give him more than a one-year offer) would be a couple of free agent former Leafs in Daniel Winnik and Dominic Moore.
If GM Lou Lamoriello wants to deal for a depth center, remember the rumors prior to the deadline of Toronto having interest in Riley Sheahan? The Wings center has another year on his contract at $2.075 Million and is coming off a nightmarish two-goal season in Detroit.
If not, how does Ben Smith strike you….?
A –The more realistic scenario for Anaheim is to ask veteran blueliner Kevin Bieksa to waive his no-movement clause or buy him out before the Expansion Draft and trade either Josh Manson or Sami Vatanen to protect three (Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Vatanen/Manson). Ducks GM Bob Murray could offer something to Vegas to not take Bieksa, which would mean that if managed correctly, Anaheim will lose only one defenseman.
A – The two teams that may need to deal a defenseman prior to June 21 are the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild, but if the Preds protect eight skaters, they can shelter Roman Josi, PK Subban, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis.
Minnesota has five defensemen and is unlikely to go eight skaters and expose forwards like Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter, so they will have to move either Jonas Brodin or Matt Dumba and expose another defenseman like Marco Scandella.
A – If Justin Faulk is available, there should be about 29 teams curious about him. My feeling is that if Faulk is being shopped, it is a test balloon to see how much Carolina can get back. The All-Star and US Olympian is signed through 2020 for less than $5 Million per season.
For the Leafs to get Faulk, expect the ask to begin with William Nylander, which is when Lou Lamoriello likely hangs up on Ron Francis.
A – Quick response, Tanev – No, due to lack of durability (played over 70 games once in the last four seasons), Hamonic, Brodin and Dumba – Yes, all bring different aspects to the table, but are legitimate top-four defensemen.
A – The best chance to be a full-time playing time with the Leafs next season is Travis Dermott, depending on how Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman acclimate themselves to North America and what Toronto does over the summer to improve their defense.
The 20-year-old could make the team out of training camp, or might be a call up candidate during next season. A dark horse candidate may be Andreas Johnsson, who scored 20 goals in his rookie season with the Marlies and led the club with six playoff goals.
A - Darren Raddysh should get signed pretty quickly by some team looking for blueline depth after scoring 81 points (16 goals, 65 assists) in his fifth and final season for the Erie Otters and 22 points during the OHL Playoffs.
He has the size (6’1”, 200 lb) and his skating has improved, but it may take more work to get to NHL-level.
With the current state of the Leafs defense, they should be in on any defenseman they can get on an entry-level deal, which may also include 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner Will Butcher, who is likely to go the way of Jimmy Vesey and be an unrestricted free agent in August.
A – First one is easy, Bozak will likely not be traded this summer because Mike Babcock is not planning on moving William Nylander to center and Frederik Gauthier’s injury has thinned out the Leafs depth up the middle. The earliest you could see Bozak shopped is at next season’s trade deadline.
Van Riemsdyk being moved is contingent on whether he is amenable to a team-friendly contract extension, which can only be signed after July 1. Lou Lamoriello will undoubtedly know whether JVR is open to re-signing for less as Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri did before the Expansion Draft. If not, the Leafs will want to make their move on him before June 21 so that they can protect a younger non-exempt player (Brendan Leipsic, Josh Leivo, Kerby Rychel).
Cup Prediction – Pittsburgh in 6.
Nashville will give the Pens a battle if Pekka Rinne continues to put up a .941 save percentage as he has throughout the playoffs, but the Preds have little up the middle to combat Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bonino.
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