We are deep into the dog days of summer and the Blue Jays are in the thick of the American League wild card race, but there is never a lull in interest in the Maple Leafs and the upcoming season.
Here are some of the questions you submitted questions to my Twitter account and in the comments section of my Hockeybuzz column.
@MikeInBuffalo leafs have a realistic shot at Kevin Hayes?
— John F. Lee (@Johnflee17) August 16, 2014A - The Maple Leafs have had some success with talent groomed in US colleges, especially the addition of the undrafted Tyler Bozak out of the University of Denver in 2009 and do have a history with the Hayes family(Toronto drafted Kevin’s brother Jimmy in 2008).
The 2010 Blackhawks first rounder decided not to sign with Chicago by the August 15th deadline and is rumored to be looking to go to a team that will give him a legitimate shot at making the NHL right away.
Toronto cannot offer any kind of guarantees, since they stockpiled forwards this summer with the additions of Petri Kontiola, Matt Frattin, Leo Komarov, David Booth, Daniel Winnik and Mike Santorelli and have prospects such as Peter Holland and Carter Ashton fighting for roster spots.
@MikeInBuffalo what are your proposed lines? More importantly who gets the spot beside Kadri and Lupul
— Frankie DG (@CoachFrank18) August 16, 2014A – The Leafs line combinations could be fluid early in the season, with all the new players available to Randy Carlyle. He will likely not toy with the first line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel and veteran Joffrey Lupul playing with Nazem Kadri on the second line.
Of all the recent additions over the summer, winger David Booth would seem to be the best fit to play a top-six role because of his high-end skill set. Booth plays primarily the left side, which would mean that Lupul would have to move to right wing(which he mostly played before coming to Toronto).
The Leafs have a lot of flexibility with their forwards, as Santorelli, Winnik, Kontiola and Komarov(in the KHL) can play wing and up the middle. Winnik would be my choice for a checking line center with Komarov and David Clarkson, while Holland would play with Frattin/Kontiola and Santorelli.
You notice I did not mention Colton Orr or Frazer McLaren.
@MikeInBuffalo With only a skelton of experienced defenseman and an overabundance of forwards, are more moves inevitable for the Leafs?
— Doug Stewart (@ldsooner) August 16, 2014A - There may be a tweak or two before the start of the regular season, such as trading Orr or McLaren to a team where they would have a better chance at making the NHL roster(Calgary or their hometown Winnipeg Jets), but a major move for an Evander Kane or trading Dion Phaneuf is a long shot.
The area where the Leafs may go down the Mason Raymond/training camp invite route is on defense, because their top six appears to be set with Phaneuf, Jake Gardiner, Cody Franson, Morgan Rielly, Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak, but do not have an experienced option as an extra defender.
It is unlikely that Leafs GM Dave Nonis wants young blueline prospects like Petter Granberg or Stuart Percy sitting in the press box at the ACC instead of playing 20 minutes a game with the Marlies, so perhaps someone like ex-Leaf Mark Fraser or another free agent veteran defenseman could be added as insurance.
@MikeInBuffalo Who will be the Leafs two roster goaltenders on opening night of the 2014-15 season; Bernier & ___________ ?
— Doug Stewart (@ldsooner) August 16, 2014With his signing of the two-year deal, it is more likely that Reimer is moved closer to the trade deadline or next summer if he puts up good numbers with the Leafs in a backup role.
Question from “Not_Stee… in the comments: Do you think this will finally be the year Phil(Kessel) nets 40 goals?
A – Kessel will score over 30 goals getting first line minutes and first-unit power play opportunities, but the fact is that he and the Leafs core players were gassed at the end of last season due to being overplayed.
The emphasis on adding depth forwards distributing ice time more evenly using four lines would indicate that Kessel will not play as many minutes and that would decrease his chances of reaching the 40-goal plateau.
Question from “Garnie… in the comments: Do you think the Leafs will trade Franson and Reimer before the season starts?
A – Since Reimer signed a two-year deal, the Leafs have time to re-establish his value and get more than they’ve reportedly been offered for him in a deal. A Franson trade is likely since he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season, but they will probably keep him until the trade deadline, as it buys the club time and lets their youngsters get another half season of experience in the AHL.
The Leafs could get a decent return for Franson if they trade him in October, but they might get even more for the right-hand shot power-play specialist from a contending team looking for a rent-a-player closer to the trade deadline.
The only way a Franson deal is moved up is if Granberg, Percy or 20-year-old Matt Finn stand on their head in training camp and earn a top-six spot.
Thanks for the questions.
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