Michael Pezzetta's Maple Leafs Future Suddenly in Jeopardy
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
Although the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Michael Pezzetta to replace Ryan Reaves, he may not get a chance to play regularly unless the team makes a trade.
It was a signing that caught several off guard when the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to lock up Michael Pezzetta to a two-year deal at the start of free agency, but he's quickly endearing himself to the Toronto faithful.
Expected to play a bottom-line role in an energy role, throwing big hits and sparking the team, he's a vast improvement over Ryan Reaves and can certainly dish out the punishment when needed.
Toronto's double dip may cause some lineup issues come October
However, there was also a very similar move made weeks later when the Maple Leafs decided to acquire Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks. It was a shrewd bit of business, and Joshua is a great comeback story, but there's a bit of an issue.
Both players essentially offer the same type of game, albeit with Joshua having a bit more offensive potential. Surely there's a spot in the lineup for both of them, but that really depends on if Toronto is able to clear the roster space necessary.
How a lineup with and without Michael Pezzetta would affect the Maple Leafs
Let's take a look at things. If Toronto doesn't have the chance to get rid of David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok, then there may be slim pickings and nowhere for Pezzetta to go.
The bottom-six may look something similar to this come October:
Joshua - Roy - McMann
Lorentz - Laughton - Jarnkrok/Robertson
Those are great lines for sure, and it would be hard to see Pezzetta earning time over Robertson or Jarnkrok especially with the former winning his arbitration case potentially.
However Pezzetta makes a perfect depth forward, and if Craig Berube needs to instil some more physicality and defense into his lineup, he's the guy.
Here's how a bottom six with Pezzetta may work out:
Joshua - Roy - McMann
Pezzetta - Laughton - Lorentz
You'll notice that quickly the lineup without Robertson and Jarnkrok becomes much more dangerous overall. Pezzetta averages nearly 200 hits, Lorentz had 199, and Laughton is about two high-sticks to the face away from pulling a Happy Gilmore; he can be a bit dirty when needed.
If Toronto wants to play against teams like Florida and try to keep themselves afloat, they need to fight fire with fire and bring in that fourth line to the playoffs and make sure they send a message.
So it might not be a lot of games that Michael Pezzetta comes in, especially if other players start to pick things up.
But come April, he needs to be a key part of this lineup. Max Pacioretty was a bottom-six hero; so how's about another former Canadien doing the same thing this year?
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