Équipe: 2017-18 Maple Leafs de Toronto

Date de création initiale: 19 avr. 2017

Publié: 19 avr. 2017

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Most people believe the leafs are 1 good defender away from being a seriously good team. With Rielly, Gardiner, and Zaitsev presumably taking 3 of the top 4 spots, many assume the defender the leafs need has to be a righty. However Rielly has been playing the right side (with Hunwick) throughout the playoffs and i believe he has looked better than he was in the regular season. If he can play either side long term, this opens up the market of suitable D-men.
Matthias Ekholm is a big (6'4 215 lbs) shutdown type defender who can eat up big minutes and is still an above average puck mover. He is sometimes overlooked, maybe because he plays in Nashville, maybe because is isn't as flashy as others, but he is still an ELITE shot suppressing defensemen and just what the leafs need. Nashville may be forced to deal a defensemen due to the expansion draft, and if so I think the Leafs would be smart to acquire him, although it may take more than what I have here (Let me know what you think!)

Signings:
-Hunwick has looked good as of late and Babcock loves his leadership and work ethic so a 1 year deal would give Dermott another year to "overcook" in the minors
-I think 4 year deals are perfect for Brown/Hyman
-I'm not sure Boyle would want to return to the leafs as his wife is from Tampa, but if we throw $3.5 million at him for one year I think he may bite (we have the cap space) If he wanted to sign a 2 year deal I would do that too as Freddy the goat still doesn't seem ready (same as Dermott, let them over-develop)
-Condon is a big (necessary for Babcock) goalie who can play a lot or a little as we've seen in Ottawa and Montreal.
-Finally, I know reports of Zaitsev getting 4.5 for 7 years has surfaced and i do like him as a player, but i think the leafs should really try to get that $ and term down a bit. Throwing big money and term to a 1st year player seems like a bad idea. $4 for 5-6 year is what I would want to see.