\While attention this weekend is mostly focused on the Toronto Blue Jays attempt to close the gap in the AL East on the division-leading New York Yankees, there never fails to be interest in the Toronto Maple Leafs and what they have(or have not) done this summer. Time to take some of your questions from Twitter.
@MikeInBuffalo Does Lou Lamoriello last three years in Toronto?
— Chris Wassel (@ChrisWasselDFS) August 8, 2015A – It’s very unlikely that Lou Lamoriello decided to take on the challenge of helping to right the ship in Toronto if he was not fully committed to staying at least the length of his three-year deal. The 72-year-old is still vigorous and wants to be a part of hockey operations, something that was not going to be possible in New Jersey under new ownership and former Penguins GM Ray Shero taking over.
The management structure in Toronto is something that will not require Lamoriello to bear the same burden that he had with the Devils. His influence and input will be significant, but the decision-making apparatus will include Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter and Assistant GM Kyle Dubas, with Brendan Shanahan being the final arbiter.
Shanahan has a great deal of respect for the man who drafted him second overall 28 years ago and that should contribute to Lamoriello staying the full three years or more, possibly becoming a senior advisor when Dubas eventually takes his place.
@MikeInBuffalo with so many new players, what do you think the lineups will look opening night
— WeTheNorth (@LeafGuyCarlo) August 8, 2015A – There is no way to know what head coach Mike Babcock has in mind for line or defensive pairing combinations before the club takes to the ice for training camp next month and projecting fourth liners and bottom pairing defensemen is a shot in the dark at best.
The goaltending tandem is undoubtedly Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer. On defense, Dion Phaneuf, Jake Gardiner, Stephane Robidas, Roman Polak and Morgan Reilly are definites. Free agent Matt Hunwick and Martin Marincin should fill out the blueline corps.
The inside track up the middle is Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak, Shawn Matthias and Peter Holland, with Sam Carrick as a possible fourth line option. Joffrey Lupul, PA Parenteau, Richard Panik are likely the top three spots on the right side, with James van Riemsdyk, Leo Komarov and Daniel Winnik on the left.
The battle at forward will be over depth positions between veteran Matt Frattin, newcomers Nick Spaling, Mark Arcobello and Taylor Beck, youngsters Josh Leivo, Casey Bailey and Zach Hyman.
@MikeInBuffalo would've liked to see Bernier traded. Lots of money just to keep us away from Matthews..
— The Leafs Outsider (@Fan_Tamblyn) August 8, 2015A – The Maple Leafs still do not know definitively what they have in Bernier, since the team that has played in front of him has been such a train wreck defensively the last two seasons. Toronto got the 27-year-old goalie on a very reasonable price($4.15 Million AAV for two years is in the lower third of NHL salaries for starting goalies), which was preferable than delving into free agency and signing a new goaltender for more money and term just entering a lengthy rebuild.
Trading Bernier would have meant moving an asset at his lowest possible value, leaving the Leafs with only James Reimer as their only experienced goalie. Under Babcock, it is possible that Bernier will show the potential that Toronto was attracted to when they traded for him in 2013. It could make him part of the future or an attractive trade commodity over the length of his contract.
Also remember that the rules for the NHL Draft Lottery change in 2016 and that the team finishing in last place could drop as far as fourth overall, so there is no guarantee of getting Auston Matthews if the Leafs finish at the bottom of the NHL standings.
@MikeInBuffalo Bozak was said to be gone before the season, does this still happen? What teams could be interested and what's the return?
— Jarod Neithercut (@JarodNeithercut) August 8, 2015A – The window for a summer deal for Bozak has passed, since most teams have filled their needs via free agency and trades or want to see how their teams play with the roster they are going to training camp with. There could be a change if a club has a catastrophic injury to one of their top centers, but it is likely that any serious talk about trading the 29-year-old center will not start until American Thanksgiving and will continue until the trade deadline next March.
@MikeInBuffalo the #leafs have 8 NHL defensemen. With several defense prospects, do you see them trading a defensemen before October?
— Ryan Johnson (@1967beleaf) August 8, 2015A – The answer is no to trading a defenseman before the season. Polak, Robidas and/or Phaneuf are all candidates to be moved before the trade deadline, but to start the season, the Leafs want to retain some veterans on the blueline to prevent throwing young prospects to the wolves.
Phaneuf, Gardiner, Robidas, Polak, Hunwick and Reilly are definitely NHL defensemen. Martin Marincin is 23 years old, but was moved by a team(Edmonton) with arguably the worst blueline in the NHL, so his credentials are in dispute.
Petter Granberg will likely be out until Christmas recovering from an Achilles injury and has played a great total of 8 NHL games, Stuart Percy and Scott Harrington have minimal NHL experience and would likely benefit more from playing major minutes in the AHL than being in and out of the lineup with the Leafs and TJ Brennan is likely bound for the Marlies.
@MikeInBuffalo which leaf player do you project to break out the most this year?
— Ryan George (@Ryan13George) August 8, 2015A – Morgan Rielly, based on the combination of character, high hockey IQ and physical ability the 20-year-old blueliner has. It is not unrealistic that the Leafs 2012 top pick will supplant Phaneuf as the club’s top defenseman at some point during the season, averaging the most time on ice and playing on the top power play unit.
@MikeInBuffalo do you think Phaneuf will stay? Hope not
— Robbycorp (@Robbycorp) August 8, 2015A – Whether it was due to their lack of willingness to retain salary on the six remaining years of Phaneuf’s contract, not getting enough talent in return or Mike Babcock’s interest in keeping the 30-year-old defenseman around, the Leafs team captain will be staying at least in the short term.
GM Lou Lamoriello has a history of building clubs in New Jersey with strong bluelines and although no one will mistake Phaneuf for Scott Stevens or Scott Niedermayer, it is possible that he could remain in Toronto until there is an opportunity to make a beneficial hockey trade.
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