The Maple Leafs have not made a big splash signing or trade in the first two weeks of July as many had expected or hoped, but new Team President Brendan Shanahan is happy with what GM Dave Nonis has accomplished this off-season thus far.
“I think there was a perception out there that was incorrect about July 1 for us. I thought that we were strategic, we had a plan.” Shanahan stated at the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke, ON on Day 3 of the Leafs rookie camp. “We had targeted certain individuals and we got almost all of them.”
The Leafs specifically targeted veteran defenseman Stephane Robidas, who Shanahan and Carlyle had dinner with the night before the start of the free agent frenzy, while GM Dave Nonis flew to Finland following the draft weekend in Philadelphia to sit down with Leo Komarov.
With the additions of Robidas, Komarov, Mike Santorelli, Petri Kontiola and the acquisitions of Roman Polak and Matt Frattin, the Leafs were able to add quality depth to their third and fourth lines, to contribute on special teams and add experience to the blueline, while maintaining some flexibility to re-sign RFA’s and possibly dip into free agency or make a trade if the opportunity presents itself.
“We’re sitting here now in a position a week later, where we’ve got some players we really like at the right numbers…with the proper fit…and a lot of cap space to do something if we want to going forward.” Shanahan said.
Nonis will likely try to find a bargain free agent similar to the $1 Million signing of winger Mason Raymond last September, as players around the league like veteran Dany Heatley (who signed a one year, $1 Million deal with Anaheim on Wednesday) and center Steve Ott (re-signed with St. Louis for two years, $5.2 Million) look to lock down a spot for next season.
Shanahan also stressed wanting to leave some opportunity for youngsters to fight for a job in training camp, whether it be prospects like Carter Ashton, Petter Granberg or Peter Holland who have paid their dues with the Toronto Marlies or 2014 top pick William Nylander, who played against experienced players in the Swedish Hockey League as a 17-year-old.
The Marlies will likely have a significant influx of youth next season, as 2012 draftees Matt Finn, Connor Brown and Ryan Rupert are old enough to play in the AHL and may not have much more to gain from another season in the OHL, while as many as three of the club’s Swedish contingent could play under head coach Steve Spott.
Defensive prospect Tom Nilsson and SHL Rookie of the Year Andreas Johnson played last season with Frolunda, while 2012 seventh rounder Viktor Loov played with Modo. Nilsson is definitely headed to North America, Loov’s status is uncertain and Johnson is contractually obligated to return to Sweden for another year. The wild card will be Nylander, who could return to Sweden, play in the OHL(was drafted by Mississauga), with the Marlies or the Leafs.
*******
Shanahan indicated that the search for assistant coaches is nearly complete. Nonis and head coach Randy Carlyle have been working on hiring a new staff after assistants Dave Farrish, Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin were let go in May.
According to Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons, two of the three coaches are expected to be internal promotions from the Toronto Marlies, either head coach Steve Spott, assistants Derek King or Gord Dineen.
*******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.*******
For Those on Twitter:
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:
»