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Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello knows that defense is where his club needs to upgrade to be able to take the next step towards being a Stanley Cup contender, but recognizing that and actually being able to address it are two different things.
“We certainly have three individuals under contract in (Jake) Gardiner, (Morgan) Rielly and (Nikita) Zaitsev right now that bring a certain style and certain dimension.… Lamoriello said during a conference call earlier this week. “I think we have to add to that group, and not make decisions just for simply adding, they have to be people who come in and help. Also, we’ve got one or two players in the minors that we’re going to take a real good look at.…
The Leafs have the ability to make changes this summer with a significant amount of available cap space to acquire players, but Lamoriello says he will continue to be patient if his options are to overspend in free agency or in the trade market.
With the offensive skill set of the current top three, pending UFA Kevin Shattenkirk (who is expected to garner as much as $7 Million per season) does not seem to be a good fit. Veteran Karl Alzner would seem to make more sense as a defensively responsible partner for Gardiner or Rielly, but his reported asking price in a thin free agent market may be over $5 Million per season.
The trade market could be costly, as opposing GM’s potentially shopping defensemen like Chris Tanev or Mark-Edouard Vlasic will be asking for William Nylander or Mitch Marner, who the Leafs will not trade. If Lamoriello decides to take advantage of his stockpile of forwards and moves a veteran like James van Riemsdyk, he could get a young defenseman such as Anaheim's Josh Manson or Minnesota's Matt Dumba in exchange.
If Toronto does sign a free agent like Alzner, they will have to counterbalance another big salary with someone like 2015 second-rounder Travis Dermott, third-round pick Andrew Nielsen or SHL blueliner Calle Rosen who would be on their entry-level contracts.
Another possible option may be to explore the NCAA free agent market. According to reporter Adrian Dater, the Colorado Avalanche are not close to signing 2017 Hobey Baker award winner Will Butcher and it is likely that the University of Denver defenseman will follow the path of Jimmy Vesey and choose where to go as a free agent after August 15.
Lamoriello and head coach Mike Babcock emphasized that the Leafs surprising success this season and the presence of youngsters Auston Matthews, Nylander and Marner could prove to be a magnet for free agents.
Butcher will get an two-year entry-level deal no matter where he signs, which means that connections and opportunity will be a determining factor to where the 22-year-old chooses to go.
In the case of Vesey, a determining factor of signing with New York was his friendship with Rangers forward Kevin Hayes. Toronto signed U. of Denver forward Trevor Moore (Butcher’s teammate for three years) last July and Pioneers alum Tyler Bozak played a part is swaying Moore to sign with the Leafs.
While all the pieces may not fall into place as they did with the Leafs rookie crop last season, Toronto may opt for options such as Dermott, Rosen, Manson and/or Butcher to raise the overall quality of their defensive corps instead of making a long term commitment or a transaction that may end up being a mistake.
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