The Leafs have a hole to fill on the blueline, but fans may not like one of the better options
As if Leaf fans, myself included, haven't had enough emotional torture over the past two or three seasons. Hell, even over the last several decades. This season's playoff run ended in the second round, which was a nice change after half a dozen first round exits in a row. The hockey gods decided to have another laugh at our expense as, just over a year after a John Tavares' game tying goal was called back for interference, the Leafs' season ended on a play caused by a missed interference call. Super ironic, really.
Last season, it was Justin Holl heading to the box for interference. This season, he leaves as a free agent, highly unlikely to be re-signed. On the other side of that coin, it was Radko Gudas who grabbed hold of Calle Jarnkrok's stick in Game 5, allowing Nick Cousins to get a clean shot away to beat Joseph Woll and send the Leafs back to the golf course. Both Gudas and Holl play the right side, and like Holl, Gudas will be an unrestricted free agent when Florida's season ends. I can't think of a better replacement for Holl, as sickening as that sounds.
Gudas is an absolute monster. In fact, I think he may have Neanderthal DNA in there somewhere. He looks like a cave man and plays like one. He recorded the first and second hardest shots of the 2022-23 regular season and actually has some offensive upside. He kills penalties and blocks shots too. When he hits, he hits with intent. Call him dirty, call him reckless, call him a prick for screaming in Joseph Woll's face after the series winning goal - he doesn't care. Gudas is built for prison rules hockey. Until the NHL decides to call the rulebook in the playoffs, you're going to need players like him on your team if you want to win the physical battle. As much as we all hate him now, Leaf fans would almost certainly love to have a guy like that on the roster come next season's playoffs. I mean, come on! The guy's nickname is "The Butcher" - "Butch" for short.
It might be a little much to stomach right now, so soon after Gudas and the Panthers sent the Leafs packing, but perhaps when free agency rolls around on July 1st, fans will warm up to the idea of adding a nasty, physical presence on the blueline, if they don't already acknowledge that a guy like that might be one of the missing pieces.
| POLL | ||
MAI 28 | 596 ANSWERS The Leafs have a hole to fill on the blueline, but fans may not like one of the better options Would you like to see Radko Gudas in a Leafs Jersey? | ||
| No. Screw that guy | 191 | 32 % |
| Yes, Leafs need to be tougher | 232 | 38.9 % |
| Yes, but the salary has to be right | 173 | 29 % |
| List of polls | ||
