T.J. Brodie Criticized by Maple Leafs Fans, Emerges As The Odd Man Out
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had struggles on defense all season long. As a result, the front office added to this position at the trade deadline. Due to the additions made one well-respected veteran in T.J. Brodie could be watching important games from the press box.
Maple Leafs Make Several Additions To Their Defensive Unit
After the loss of top defenseman John Klingberg earlier this season the Maple Leafs defensive unit was looking thin. Heading into the trade deadline fans were hoping for the team to acquire a defenseman or two which they ended up doing with Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson.
REUNITED 💙
The @MapleLeafs have brought back Ilya Lyubushkin in a three-way trade with the @AnaheimDucks and @Canes!
Joel Edmundson is headed to Toronto! 🍁
As a result of these moves the Toronto Maple Leafs now have an abundance of depth on defense filled with veteran leadership. This sudden increase in depth and quality has led some to question the future of T.J. Brodie in the Maple Leafs lineup.
Brodie The Odd Man Out In Toronto?
Since these trades have been made T.J. Brodie has still been a staple in the Maple Leafs lineup. However, the contributions have not been there and this has led to major discussion about whether or not he should be in the lineup.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are still grappling with one of their most pressing issues: defense. Surprisingly, the player who might find himself on the outside looking in for the playoffs isn't who you'd expect. Let's delve into that in this segment of Leaf Digest.
T.J. Brodie's Struggles
T.J. Brodie's performance on the blue line has raised concerns, particularly this week, suggesting he could be the odd man out or perhaps benefit from a break. In a recent discussion, we highlighted his potential role and how it might be affecting his performance. Brodie's stats from last summer paint a concerning picture, indicating a decline in his play. While there are personal factors at play, the Leafs must assess their options as the playoffs loom. Examining his recent game logs, his ice time stands out, with consistently high minutes but less impactful contributions. Adjustments may be necessary, whether reducing his role or exploring contract renegotiation.
With Brodie's struggles, it would not be a surprise to see a couple of games down the stretch where Brodie is watching from the press box. In the most recent lineup for the Maple Leafs Brodie was on what has become the Maple Leafs' second pair as far as ice time goes with Jake McCabe
The Maple Leafs have a real opportunity to compete this season and cannot throw that away to please veteran players with large amounts of playing time.
POLL |
Should the Toronto Maple Leafs be scratching T.J. Brodie? |
Yes | 611 | 78.2 % |
No | 170 | 21.8 % |
List of polls |
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