An ex-Flame/Capital an interesting fourth line option for the Leafs
It was recently reported that because of the media attention the Leafs' "Core 4" usually gets, that it has created a bit of a divide between the players as the Leafs have been viewed largely as the "Core 4, plus 19" since the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares joined the team. One of the things the Leafs would reportedly like to do this off-season and upcoming season is decrease the level of attention on those four and allow the entire team to build an identity.
New GM Brad Treliving has said that he wants the team to be more physical and harder to play against and the media has pointed out the lack of identity in the bottom six. There's no denying that the constant turnover in the bottom six has made it a challenge to develop an identity. When the Leafs acquired Noel Acciari from St. Louis at the deadline, they finally had a piece that could help create a bottom six with an identity. Many would like to see Acciari back with the Leafs to help in that regard. Another player that would help in that regard is former Flame, Captial and Bruin, Garnet Hathaway.
The 6'3, 210 pound winger is a very physical and tough fourth liner that is always finishing his hits and is not afraid to mix things up. Having Treliving as the GM of the Leafs could help them land the winger as a free agent this summer, as Treliving signed him to his first NHL contract in Calgary. Hathaway spent the first 9 years of his pro career in the Flames' system before moving on to the Washington Capitals and then being traded to the Bruins at the deadline.
With the Leafs having around $14M in cap space, and more once they move on from Matt Murray, they could easily afford to add Hathaway to their forward group and retain Acciari. According to Evolving Hockey, Hathaway's projected contract will be for 3 years and just over $2.2M per season. If the Leafs can add Hathaway and retain Acciari, their fourth line would become one of the most physical in the league. Not only that, but both are defensively responsible and can play against other teams' top players if needed.
In a total of 84 games last season, split between Washington and Boston, Hathaway racked up 13 goals and 22 points, playing mostly 4th line duty. He was also a +5 and racked up 69 penalty minutes 268 hits and 83 blocked shots.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 12 | 405 ANSWERS An ex-Flame/Capital an interesting fourth line option for the Leafs Will Garnet Hathaway become Leaf this summer? | ||
| Yes | 222 | 54.8 % |
| No | 183 | 45.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
