Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Potential Offseason Targets
By Ryan Ritchie
Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Speculation: 5 Potential Offseason Targets to Consider
Toronto Maple Leafs head into June 24th’s Draft in Buffalo with the first overall selection. As expected, Auston Matthews seems to be the consensus number one pick.
Finding that elusive no.1 center helps to accelerate the re-build plan just slightly, but now the focus turns to fill other needs.
The biggest hole on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster heading into the offseason remains between the pipes. They could also use a top four right-handed defenseman. As it stands, Connor Carrick and Frank Carrado are the only decent RH shooting blueliners.
As most in the hockey world know, coach Mike Babcock places a high level of emphasis on LH-RH pairings. While Toronto will look to develop these players, it’s conceivable they turn to the trade market to find at least one (given how long the development process can take).
With the amount of players in the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect pool (plus however many are generated from 12 picks at the Draft), there will come a point when Lou and Brendan need to make decisions on top prospects.
Prospects could be traded for numerous reasons; perhaps their development has stunted; they don’t fit the mold of the rebuild; or, too much depth at a certain position.
Here’s an example of where too much depth occurs:
We’ve got Connor Brown, Nikita Soshnikov, Zach Hyman, Brendan Leipsic and Kasperi Kapanen battling with the likes of Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews (if drafted), James van Riemsdyk, Leo Komarov, and Nazem Kadri for top six minutes.
Even if a few of those names develop into top six forwards, now the Toronto Maple Leafs have a couple of prospects on the outside looking in, and an option to move guys like van Riemsdyk, Komarov, or Kadri.
Main point being, no matter how many prospects develop (wherever they land in the lineup), as a GM, you want to be faced with those difficulties. That is the same scenario General Manager’s such as Stan Bowman and Steve Yzerman are facing every offseason.
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Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Targets to Consider This Summer
Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks
It would be surprising if Frederik Andersen is still in Anaheim next Fall. Logic seems to dictate that John Gibson is ready to carry the load for the Ducks.
Set to become an RFA on July 1, don’t be surprised if Bob Murray looks to move Frederik’s contract before/at the draft. Who knows if Andersen could be the long-term answer since he’s somewhat considered a borderline starter/1A type of goalie.
Ben Bishop/or Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
An expansion announcement could change Steve Yzerman’s long-term plans.
TB might even feel comfortable moving forward with Vasilevskiy after his postseason performance in 2016.
One thing to consider is that Ben Bishop does own a full no-movement clause in his contract. So while the desire might be to trade the older netminder, Yzerman might not have a choice in the matter if Bishop decides he’s earned his role.
Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets
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This is more of a short-term option. Pavelec has a pair of years remaining at a $3.9 million dollar cap hit.
He’s an underrated goalie who has shown vast improvement as the team in front of him got better over the years.
Ondrej Pavelec is your prototypical 1A starter. He needs to be in a competitive tandem, and can assume the majority of starts. As mentioned, not the long-term answer for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he can certainly man the crease until a younger goalie is developed/acquired.
Travis Hamonic, New York Islanders
With Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, and Matt Hunwick all left-handed and capable playing in the top four, who ends up the odd man out? A strange question maybe, but Mike Babcock loved what Matt Hunwick brought to the table in 2015-16.
The other conundrum; when Jake Gardiner is your projected long-term 2nd pairing LHD (even given his development this past season), is there not an obligation to find Jake a stay-at-home RH partner?
Travis Hamonic rescinded his earlier trade request, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s off the market. The Leafs would need to sacrifice a quality blueliner to make a deal work, but it’s an option Garth Snow might explore this offseason to shake things up in Brooklyn.
Next: NHL Mock Draft 6.0: 7 Rounds of Prospect Analysis
Sami Vatanen, Anaheim Ducks
Morgan Rielly was more of an offensive defender when he entered the league, but he continues to develop into a complete no.1 defenseman.
The Toronto Maple Leafs can eventually explore a more offensive option to play alongside Rielly on that top pairing.
Vatanen looked good during his time alongside Hampus Lindholm in 2015-16.
He might be a guy that could eventually slide into Toronto’s second pairing, who plays north of 20 minutes/night, and provides a ton of offense. Give Mike Babcock an opportunity to work with him, he could develop into a more well-rounded blueliner.