One new Leaf fitting in extremely well: ''He's probably top three in the league for reputations''
The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't take any big swings before the March 8th deadline, unless you're talking about players with size. In the case of 6'5, 221-pound Joel Edmundson, the Leafs swing very. very big.
There are players around the league who don't know how to use their size to their advantage, whether due to a lack of speed or a lower level of physicality than you'd expect from someone so large. Take former Leaf Pierre Engvall for example. Yes, he can be a useful player in certain situations, but at 6'5, 215 lbs, you'd expect Engvall to be a lot more dominant in all areas of the ice than he is. He plays much more passive and subdued than a player his size rightfully should. The Leafs won't have that same problem with Edmundson.
Not only is Edmundson hard on the opposition, delivering shoves, cross-checks and leaning on people along the boards at just the right time, but he's also a very reputable player around the league. His teammates absolutely love him. In fact, budding young star Robert Thomas in St. Louis told The Athletic this week that Edmundson is a big reason that he's been able to find success at the NHL level.
Edmundson has also become quite popular in the Leafs' locker room very quickly. He hasn't even been a Leaf for a full week yet and forward Max Domi mentioned that the entire team already loves him. Not only that, but Domi revealed that throughout all of his travels and stops with various teams, Edmundson's name has come up on a number of occasions as someone who is truly respected around the league almost unanimously.
The hulking defenseman is never going to be a guy who will blow you away on the scoresheet, but last week, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis commented on Edmundson's underrated offensive game, stating that he's better than people give him credit for in that area, even though it's the defensive zone that he truly excels in.
By all accounts, the Leafs have nabbed a good one in Edmundson. It's still early in his Maple Leafs tenure, and we may not see his true value until the playoffs begin, as that's where he really thrives, but as far as reputations go, Edmundson appears to be a very good piece for the Leafs, and one they may even look to extend this summer if the stars align for both the team and the player.
| POLL | ||
12 MARS | 466 ANSWERS One new Leaf fitting in extremely well: ''He's probably top three in the league for reputations'' Do you think the Leafs will re-sign Joel Edmundson this summer? | ||
| Yes, they really seem to value him | 385 | 82.6 % |
| No, he's a replacement level D | 81 | 17.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
