Leafs reportedly looking to restructure a key area of their roster
With the draft on the horizon, the NHL's buyout window now open and the Matthews and Nylander extensions looming, there's a lot to talk about when it comes to the Leafs and new GM Brad Treliving. Looking at the roster as it currently stands, the immediate priorities include filling out the vacant bottom 6 forward slots and sorting out the goaltending situation. Matt Murray is, unfortunately, an injury liability who takes up entirely too much cap space for his on ice value. Ilya Samsonov needs a new contract and Joseph Woll is no longer waiver exempt, meaning they won't be able to stash him in the minors next season without first having him clear waivers. Dubas certainly left Treliving with some difficult decisions to make.
With everything on Treliving's plate, it was a surprise to hear that he may be taking on even more. The Leafs' D corps as it stands is fairly solid. Down the left side, Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe and Mark Giordano make a formidable trio. The right side is slightly weaker, but serviceable, with T.J. Brodie, Timothy Liljegren and Conor Timmins. Retaining Luke Schenn's services would certainly help things, but according to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, Treliving has bigger plans for the D corps.
In an interview with NHL.com, Pagnotta spoke mostly about the widely reported meeting between Auston Matthews, his agent Judd Moldaver, Shane Doan and Treliving in Arizona last week. In doing so, he buried a massive lead. Pagnotta also revealed that Treliving wants to "re-shape" the Leafs' defensive corps.
Pagnotta didn't expand, but it does fit with Treliving's M.O. This is the GM who acquired Noah Hanifin, MacKenzie Weegar, Nikita Zadorov and Dougie Hamilton in Calgary. He also drafted Rasmus Andersson and a pretty solid defenseman named Adam Fox. Conveniently enough, it's being reported that Hanifin won't be re-signing in Calgary. He very well could be the one the Leafs end up going after. Brett Pesce and Erik Karlsson are two other names out there who are rumoured to be on the move this summer.
Treliving has a habit of making big moves on the back end. It will be exciting to see who he goes after, and what he gives up to get them.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 18 | 868 ANSWERS Leafs reportedly looking to restructure a key area of their roster If the Leafs only bring in one bigger-name defenseman this summer, who would you like to see him bring in? | ||
| Brett Pesce | 238 | 27.4 % |
| Erik Karlsson | 170 | 19.6 % |
| Noah Hanifin | 390 | 44.9 % |
| Other | 70 | 8.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
