Rielly 5 mil x 6 years Kadri 4.5 mil x 6 years
Leafs Nation will erupt, two homerun deals.
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The 2015/16 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs begin tonight. No Leafs, no worries; we’re in position A at this time in the rebuilding process. I for one couldn’t be happier the way things went this season.
A team that was under skilled to contend with the NHL’s best, but still managed to compete night in night out. The Leafs managed to beat some of the superior teams as they bought into Babcock’s game plan and stuck with it. A few decent returns through trade and finishing with a guaranteed top four selection, just what the doctor ordered.
There is still a lot of work ahead for Shanahan’s master plan to unfold, but there was certainly some progress made this season. A number of prospects for the Maple Leafs got a taste of action in the N, where hopefully most of them will be able to continue to grow and develop into reliable players for Babcock and his henchmen.
With so many picks stockpiled over the next couple seasons and possible free agents looming as the Leafs get on track, Toronto has to draft the cream of the crop with their picks. This is why I am a firm believer the Leafs will use some of their picks to get a player they want, or move up in the 2016 Draft. Hunter needs to pluck us an absolute gem with Pittsburgh’s first round pick. We know whoever we get with our first round pick will be a future stud; it really is a beautiful thing. With Nylander and Marner leading the pack in the Leafs prospect pool, keep an eye out in next seasons training camp for a couple breakout players. Soshnikov to me, could be an absolute beauty, I really look forward to seeing how he develops over the summer after a strong start this year before getting banged up.
Before I begin discussing the Zaitsev situation, I’d like to take a look at a few players around the twentieth to thirtieth pick (Pittsburgh’s first). I’m assuming Toronto will select one of Matthews, Laine, Puljujarvi or Tkachuk with their pick. With that being said, Toronto going after a top flight defensemen with their other first round pick would be ideal.
Logan Stanley:
At 6’6+ the Windsor Spitfire defensemen born in Waterloo Ontario is only seventeen years old, but weighs 220+ and just may be a Tyler Myers/Dougie Hamilton type player by the time he is done maturing. He scored five goals and had 12 assists in 64 games for Windsor this season, and chipped in a goal in their five playoff games. He’s not one to mess with, gathering 103 penalty minutes this season and with his size, I feel he could be valuable for the Leafs down the road, as we have a lot of average sized offensive defensemen in the system.
Markus Niemelainen:
Another beast coming in at 6’6 and weighing 205+, the Finland native played his first OHL season with Saginaw Spirit and put up 27 points in 65 games. Niemelainen isn’t as nasty of a player as Stanley, but there are advantages to both. The left handed defenseman will still need time to mature out his game, but at only seventeen he shows great potential and poise on the ice.
There are two defensemen I think could be worth looking at, and I’m sure Toronto has been looking closely as they want to hit a homerun with that second first round pick.
Now what if Toronto decides they like someone much more around pick ten and want to move up? This would be my choice if they could somehow scoop up someone like Jake Bean or Olli Juolevi. What it would cost I don’t know, but it may be worth it if Hunter and his merry men know what they want.
It’s one of, if not the most important off season of the rebuild.
Zaitsev:
Former NHL player Sergei Federov believes Zaitsev will join Maple Leafs.
GM of #CSKA Sergei Fedorov to @rsportru: 'Right from the start of the season we knew Nikita Zaitsev agreed to terms with #MapleLeafs'
Great news if this is the plan; another quality defenseman added and at no cost other than salary money. It sounds as if it will be a multi-year deal for the Russian defensemen.
Rielly + Kadri:
Both players have been signed to six-year deals; will update with salary implications.
Great news!!
Thanks for reading, enjoy the playoff action starting tonight.