Maple Leafs May Sacrifice Key Strength to Reshape Roster This Offseason
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs may need to admit defeat this summer in terms of finding a center and focus on improving their wing depth as a means to change their DNA.
In all the discussions when it comes to the Maple Leafs and their free agency plans, a lot of talk centers (no pun intended) around adding a premium pivot such as Sam Bennett in order to either replace John Tavares, or push him into a 3C role for the last part of his career.
But with a dwindling free agent market and several of their targets already scooped up or locked up, they don't have a lot of options.
Toronto may have to stay put with Matthews, Tavares, and Laughton at center
So while it would be great for them to add down the middle, they might be better suited to improve their wing depth instead as a means of increasing their offensive production.
There may come a world where the top three pivots on the Maple Leafs are Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Scott Laughton.
Is that a perfect trio? No, but you have one of the greatest in the world, one of the best two-way players over the last decade and a very gritty and solid performer to round things out.
If they surround the team with the proper complements when it comes to playmaking or goal-scoring, then things might not be as hopeless as it seems.
Who can Toronto target if they want to look past centers
For example, if the team were to target a player like Brock Boeser, that would certainly add that premium splash fans want, and still give the Leafs a perennial 2o-goal scorer, who plays solid defense and can keep out of the penalty box.
If the team didn't wanna make such a big commitment knowing what 2026 holds, they could easily go the frugal route.
Veterans like Reilly Smith, Jonathan Drouin or even Corey Perry could be feasible options for the top-9, not to mention former Maple Leafs forward Connor Brown could slide in perfectly as well.
None of those players made over $5-million with Perry and Brown both making under $2-million.
Edmonton reaped the benefits as Perry put together a blistering postseason with 14 points at age 40, and Brown was a reliable and consistent bottom-six performer all season.
Adding physicality might be on the table too, so guys like Tanner Jeannot and Justin Brazeau are also very affordable fourth-line players who can score if needed and bring a ton of punishment on the ice.
If Toronto were to go the cheaper route, this is how a potential lineup could look, and for argument's sake we'll say they make a splash for Boeser too.
Knies - Matthews - Boeser
Smith - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Laughton - Brown
Jeannot - Quillan - Perry
Talk about a culture shock. Boeser replaces some of the offense lost by Mitch Marner and is in the middle of his prime at half the cost.
Smith adds a much needed physical presence and size to the second line and can handle some of the defensive load (though one issue with that lineup is speed).
Brown gives Laughton a two-way threat and can work together with McMann to provide much needed scoring, defense (Brown) and physicality (McMann).
That fourth line is the most interesting, as we see the savvy veteran Perry and the uber-aggressive and physical Jeannot flank young defensive center Jacob Quillan.
Of all the pieces the team could use from their minor system he makes a lot of sense, Craig Berube loves his work ethic, and he's certainly a lot cheaper than David Kampf.
So we can all hope that the Maple Leafs end up finding their 2C of the future, but barring that outcome this offseason, adding a few great role players can be just as successful.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 22 | 564 ANSWERS Maple Leafs May Sacrifice Key Strength to Reshape Roster This Offseason Do you think the Maple Leafs should target a center this upcoming offseason? | ||
| Yes | 485 | 86 % |
| No | 79 | 14 % |
| List of polls | ||
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