The Maple Leafs need many things to go the right way to return to the postseason in 2014-15 and resume a positive track towards becoming a Stanley Cup contender. The club needs Jonathan Bernier to establish himself as a front line NHL goaltender (which he seemed well on his way to doing before suffering a debilitating sports hernia injury last March) and have James Reimer rebound (no pun intended) from his struggles and give the Leafs a fighting chance to win when Bernier is not between the pipes.
They must have Nazem Kadri, Joffrey Lupul, David Clarkson and a crop of veteran depth forwards provide secondary offense and help on special teams to take some of the burden off of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak and they need their defensive corps to play more competently at both ends of the ice to keep the puck out their own net and generate more scoring chances.
Leafs GM Dave Nonis bought out veteran Tim Gleason, let Paul Ranger sign in Europe and traded Carl Gunnarsson to St. Louis, adding 37-year-old defenseman Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak to the group that includes team captain Dion Phaneuf, Cody Franson, Jake Gardiner and sophomore Morgan Rielly.
While the new additions will be factor into how improved the Leafs defense will be, the Leafs are counting more on Gardiner and Rielly to step up their contribution and relieve the burden of major minutes off of Phaneuf.
The 24-year-old Gardiner scored 31 points in his second full season with the Leafs (after missing most of 2013 due to concussion issues) and trailed only Phaneuf in ice time. His skating ability and offensive creativity is top notch, but decision-making and getting outfought for pucks in the defensive zone continue to be a problem.
Rielly went through the growing pains to be expected from a 19-year-old defenseman, especially in defensive zone when paired with another offensive-minded defensemen like Franson, but the fifth overall pick showed great progress as the season evolved, did not appear intimidated by his surroundings and began feeling more comfortable using his speed and puck rushing abilities to put the opposition on their heels.
Robidas addition was to be a steadying veteran presence and has a reputation for working well with young defenders, which would make him a good partner for Rielly, while Polak is a right-hand shot known for solid play in the defensive zone, which could make him a fit with Gardiner(although preliminary indications are that the ex-Blue will replace Gunnarsson as Phaneuf’s partner).
For the Leafs to make strides this season, Gardiner will have to shore up his defensive play to be a more effective top-four defenseman, while Rielly must continue to grow and mature to the point that pending UFA Franson will be expendable and shopped at the trade deadline.
If Robidas, Polak or Franson are playing nearly 20 minutes well into the season because the Leaf youngsters are not able to handle the heavy burden, it will not be a good sign for the Blue and White’s chances.
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The additions of the right-handed Robidas and Polak give the Maple Leafs three defenseman who shoot right(along with Cody Franson), which could result in team captain Dion Phaneuf being shifted to the left side.
“I played both (sides) my whole career,… Phaneuf said to the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran. “When you do what we do, you go where you’re told, you play where you’re going to play. I’m open to either side. Wherever I’m slotted, I’m going to play and do the best I can.…
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