The Maple Leafs roster less than a month before the start of training camp appears nearly set, as GM Dave Nonis loaded up on experienced forwards on short-term deals to bolster the club’s bottom six and re-signed James Reimer to hopefully give head coach Randy Carlyle a solid one-two punch in goal.
Where the club made significant changes but may yet add another body is on the blueline.
The club swapped Carl Gunnarsson for the right-handed shooting Roman Polak, bought out Tim Gleason and added veteran Stephane Robidas, which would make the projected group Dion Phaneuf(in the first year of his seven-year, $49 Million deal), Jake Gardiner(re-signed to a five-year, $20 Million extension), Cody Franson(one-year deal, pending UFA) and promising youngster Morgan Rielly.
Where Toronto management may have concerns is if something unforeseen occurs with one or more of those top-six blueliners, which invariably does happen over a long 82 game regular season schedule.
The 37-year-old Robidas is coming off an injury-plagued 2013-14, in which he endured two broken legs(early in the season with Dallas and in the playoffs as a member of the Anaheim Ducks). Gardiner and Franson have had their share of defensive struggles and at times may need to sit a game to remind them of their responsibilities, while most expect Rielly to ascend to a top-four defenseman in his second season, but the club has no answer if he has a sophomore slump.
Toronto does have young blueliners like Petter Granberg, Stuart Percy and 26-year-old Korbinian Holzer in the pipeline if injuries or struggles do occur. It is unlikely that Nonis wants Granberg or Percy eating popcorn in the press box at the ACC instead of playing top minutes with the Marlies and Holzer’s ability to play effectively at the NHL level is in question after a woeful 22 game stint during the lockout-shortened 2013 season.
In spite of his inconsistent performance last season, veteran Paul Ranger did give Carlyle a viable option as a seventh defenseman and unless the organization is convinced that Holzer can handle that role, they may be interested in extending a tryout contract to a veteran defenseman for insurance.
Free agents Henrik Tallinder Jamie McBain and Douglas Murray all played in the Atlantic Division last season and might be willing to come in on a tryout for the chance to lock down a roster spot for the year, as well as former Leaf blueliners Mike Komisarek, Carlo Colaiacovo and Mark Fraser.
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.@Jgardiner272 and @43_Kadri help Randy Carlyle complete the ALS #IceBucketChallenge. Video to come! #TMLTalk pic.twitter.com/dyT0NKI8Gh
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