LetsGoLeafs Prime Picks: Which active NHLer do you wish played for the Leafs?
In the first installment of LetsGoLeafs Prime Picks, our staff of writers each submitted their picks for which Leaf we wish we could pluck from their prime and put them on this current Leafs team.
This week, we're going to share our thoughts on which current NHLer that has never played for the Leafs that we would love to see in a Leafs jersey!
Obviously, we know most or all of these will never happen, but we tried to have some fun with it. Plus, I don't even want to think about what the asking price would be on any of these players.
Mikey:
This was a tough one, because there are so many excellent picks. Originally, I was going to pick Andrei Svechnikov or Roman Josi, simply because those are two non-Leafs that I love to watch.
Ultimately, I decided to go with Cale Makar. Recency bias may be partially at play here, due to his ridiculous goal against the Blackhawks from earlier this week, but the reasons extend far beyond just that one goal.
Makar is just a phenomenal talent. His skating ability is pretty much unrivaled in the NHL, at least among defenders, and there just aren't many weaknesses in his game. So, for me, it's Cale Makar, with honourable mentions to Svechnikov and Josi.
Ben:
Since Mikey took my first choice in Makar, I'm going to go in a completely different direction. Tom Wilson.
He's big, he's mean, he's fast, he can fight, he can score, and he can protect our stars while playing on a line with them. Wilson is a Stanley cup champion and a menace to society. There's no player in the league quite like him either. He is one of a kind at this point. Give me Wilson on the blue and white any day.
Steve:
Brad Marchand, and I take no pleasure in admitting this. I'd take my hometown guy here. Brad is Michael Bunting on steroids. His numbers are impeccable, his tenacity is just about unmatched. He has killed my beloved Leafs for years. The "Little ball of hate", "The Rat", whatever you want to call him. You are hard pressed to find someone that produces like he does. I am gritting my teeth just thinking about him.
We sit here and yearn annually for a guy like a Brad. No disrespect to Alex Kerfoot and his excellent season. Plug Marchand in there, and it's almost a guaranteed finals appearance. If you can say to yourself, "no I don't want him", then you can also say you don't value success, period.
Rob:
This is easy for me. Alex Ovechkin. I'll give an honourable mention to Leon Draisaitl, but it's gotta be Ovi.
The Leafs desperately need a shooting threat besides Matthews on the PP. Opposing teams key in on Auston as they know Mitch will likely look for the pass, and Rielly doesn't have a booming shot from the point. It's tough to bet against the vet making a positive difference on any team in the league.
Cole:
I thought about a few players, but I'm going with Pierre-Luc Dubois. Adding him to the Leafs would be the 3 headed monster down that middle that we thought Matthews-Tavares-Kadri would be.
The guy plays hard and plays a style that is suited for playoff hockey. We saw how valuable he can be to a team's postseason success in the bubble when the Leafs played the Blue Jackets.
Dubois is 6'2 and plays heavy hockey but can also put the puck in the net. In 33 games this year he has 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points and his offensive abilities and physical play would do wonders for this current Leafs team.
