Maple Leafs Could Regret Letting This Reliable Depth Piece Walk
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs might end up regretting Pontus Holmberg walk this free agency, as he could have been the perfect versatile depth piece for Craig Berube.
When the July 1 free agency period kicked off, there was a lot of anticipation for the Toronto Maple Leafs and who they might bring in. They did make a few moves to shore up their depth, but they also saw others leave in the hopes of greener pastures.
One of those names who the Maple Leafs saw head elsewhere was Pontus Holmberg, who signed with rival Tampa Bay as a way to give himself more of a chance to earn meaningful minutes.
How Tampa Bay Could Benefit from Toronto's Roster Decision
A fantastic penalty drawer, a solid defensive player and able to contribute a bit offensively it was surprising the team decided to cut ties with him even though he's only 25, but clearly they had other plans in mind.
It might come back to bite them though, as Tampa Bay will be able to utilize his skills to benefit their team beyond what he does on the ice. If he can keep agitating opponents and draw more penalties, that means more time for Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Victor Hedman to do damage.
Plus, who's to say that Holmberg can't come into his own offensively, and has shown some flashes of playmaking and will give you a handful of goals per season.
Only signing for $1.55-million, he might end up being an absolute steal in the vein of Yanni Gourde (another player Tampa brought in last year) and there's no telling what he can do going forward.
A Growing Pattern the Maple Leafs Can't Afford to Ignore
Toronto really does tend to have a problem with getting tired of their shiny toys and moving on from them. We saw it with a slew of their recent prospects like Mikko Kokkonen, Ty Voit, Topi Niemala, and others all leave to go overseas or sign elsewhere.
These players weren't given a real shot, and in the case of Niemala; he was expected to be the next puck-moving master, but never came close to even sniffing the roster.
Why does Toronto seem to give up on their prospects?
It's a combination of a desire to win-now, a fanbase who won't appreciate a rebuild, and some poor management that has seen these players leave. Often a roster filled with veterans, there's never a place for these guys in the NHL because the Leafs gamble on the sure thing.
Nobody in Toronto wants a rebuild, and fans already dealt with misery 15 years ago; it takes time to develop players and they don't have the time.
It's a tiring trend that hopefully is going to cease with Brad Treliving, as he tries to bring in only pieces he thinks will work; no more gambling.
Why Depth Players Matter More Than Ever for the Maple Leafs
It's an aging roster that has a load of injury issues, so the more bodies you can fill in the better.
Adding as much help they can for the Marlies and the Leafs is imperative for making sure they have enough options to work with instead of being stuck with one or two players who don't really fit.
There's nothing wrong with being deeper through and through; it's just a shame that they couldn't have kept Holmberg, but there's no sense dwelling now.
Though some remorse may creep in if Holmberg breaks out.
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