Équipe: 2019-20 Maple Leafs de Toronto

Date de création initiale: 18 juill. 2019

Publié: 18 juill. 2019

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Here is a look at what I think the leafs can look like once everyone is healthy, assuming they don't make any more moves.

*Signed Marner for the purpose of this projection but my guess is as good as yours as to what he will make*

Forwards:
I believe it will be the usual top 6 but with Nylander back on the Matthews' wing. I think #88 is prime for a bounce back year and this will leave Kapanen flying on the 3rd line. Kerfoot played around 15 minutes a night last season, which will easily replace Kadri's minutes on the 3rd line, and he added a respectable 42 points while doing that in Colorado. On the left side, Trevor Moore seemed to be a very effective bottom 6 player for the leafs down the stretch and should complement that line nicely. I really like the signing of Jason Spezza, he is one of the best in the league at faceoffs, and he is still an elite powerplay specialist. I think with his skating in decline he will be more effective on the wing, especially since Gauthier can play 4th line centre, but don't be surprised to see Spezza take more draws, especially on the right side. Finally, Agostino was a good depth pick up to fill out the roster but his position can easily be stolen by other depth guys like Petan and Shore, or even a young guy like Bracco or Mikheyev (let's not pretend like we know anything about what Mikheyev will be).

Defence
A very different look to the defence group this season for the leafs. They finally got that elite right-handed defenceman, in Tyson Barrie, in which they've been searching for years. Barrie and Rielly on the first pair together will be an offensive force to be reckoned with. They've also added another right handed defenceman in Cody Ceci. Ceci took a lot of hate in Ottawa but it could be argued that it wasn't all fair. He played on a last place team playing mid-twenty-ish minutes a night, against the other teams top players, while paired with a rookie in Max Lajoie. I think if he played as a 4th defenceman, behind Rielly, Barrie, and paired with an elite vet defemceman like Muzzin on a shut-down line, he can be more effective. Finally Dermott and Holl will fill out the last pair. Ben Harper was a good pickup for depth too, as he has munched a lot of minutes, especially on the penalty kill last year which many leafs dmen have not. But be careful that Babcock doesn't love Harper too much because he only has 1 goal in 107 games. Timothy Liljegren can also push for that 3rd pair RD spot, but it's probably better to have one more year with the Marlies and have a more dominant role.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. See you next year in the garden for game 7!