Van Reimsdyk – Nylander – Hyman
Soshnikov – Kadri – Komarov
Lupul – Bozak – Greening
Michalek – Laich – UFA
Reilly – Hunwick
Gardiner – Marincin
Carrick – Campbell
Bernier
UFA
What Does This Mean?
In my opinion, Toronto needs to be horrendous one more year. That means keeping your prospects in the minors so they can develop, and another high draft choice. There is no need to have young guns like Marner or Kapanen for example playing third or fourth line minutes when they could be getting 20-25 in the OHL and AHL. Keep the young guns in the minors, have one more rough year, then consider to insert more young pieces to the puzzle. But for now, no need to try and win. Let the young guys get the winning experience so they can bring that to the NHL level.
William Nylander – 12 Games Played, 4 goals, 3 assists, +3
Nylander gave Leafs Nation some excitement as he was finally brought up to the Maple Leafs. Expectations are high and will continue to be for the rest of his career. He has show he can last in the NHL when the Leafs made it official that they were burning year one of his deal this season. He had a slow start so-to-speak but has really picked it up. The 3 point game against Calgary earlier this week has really proved that he is one of the most skilled up and comers right now. His defensive skills are not NHL ready but he continues to get better day in and day out. After the performance against Calgary, he was rewarded with the responsibility of dealing with Getzlaf and Kesler. How will he do? I think he will struggle, but it’s a good testament to his ability to score and play defensively against the NHLs top two-way centres. All in all, very impressed with William Nylander thus far.
Joshua Leivo – 11 Games Played, 5 Goals, 0 Assists, +3
His point distribution says it all, he can score. Leivo has been fairly impressive this season. As Babcock has noted, he needs more strength to become a regular NHL player. The sky is the limit for this kid. If in a few years he is playing with a very skilled playmaking forward like Nylander or Marner, I could see him putting up 30 goals.
Nikita Soshnikov – 11 Games Played, 2 Goals, 3 Assists, -4
If you haven’t seen the 2 goals he has scored, you better go take a look. This is a kid who can flat out shoot the puck. In my opinion, this was a tremendous steal of a free agent by the Maple Leafs. He has used his big frame well. To make things better, he is being compared to a Leo Komarov with a better shot. Not a bad reputation to have among the hockey world.
Zach Hyman – 12 Games pLayed, 4 Goals, 1 Assist, +2
Nylander and Hyman are two players that have developed some great chemistry in the AHL and brought it with them to the NHL. These two have played great together all year long. Similar to Nikita, Hyman has a big frame and uses it to his advantage. Another great steal by Leafs management trading for him from the Florida Panthers. Looking forward to seeing him and Nylander in the years to come.
Byron Froese – 50 Games Played, 2 Goals, 3 Assists, -9
He has been a player that has been with the Leafs the majority of this season. Going from the ECHL to the NHL in a matter of about a year is a sign of great perseverance from him. He has been great on draws and Babcock has loved him in the defensive zone. Although he has played fairly well, I don’t see him having a future in Toronto with the likes of Nylander, Kadri, Boak, and most importantly, Gauthier in line ahead of him. Gauthier will fill in a third or fourth defensive center role with the team, meaning no room for Froese.
Brendan Leipsic – 6 Games Played, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, -1
In his games with the Leafs, he has made a decent impression. Even though he has some growing up to do, he may make his way back to the NHL next season. He was a special piece of the Franson deal last season and has continued to prosper in the Leafs organization. I like this kid and I do see him in the Leafs future, however not the immediate future.
Viktor Loov – 4 Games Played, 0 Goals, 2 Assists, +4
He has looked like a steal for the past year or so now. Drafted late in the draft, Viktor looks like he could pan out to be an NHL defensemen someday. Although this was a quick call up, he held his own out there and didn’t hurt his chances in the future. I see him as a regular defensemen in the next couple of years.
Connor Brown – 3 Games Played, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, -2
Another quick stint like Loov, Brown was finally given the chance to play in the NHL. He did not turn heads by ay means, but showed why he is another bright spot in the Leafs future. I look forward to seeing him again in the future.
Scott Harrington – 15 Games Played, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 0
I never saw Harrington sticking with the big club this year, he is on the border of the NHL and AHL but I personally believe he is not ready to make the jump just yet. I’d predict he will make his way to the NHL in the next 2 years or so.
Stuart Percy – 3 Games Played, 0 Goals, 0 Assists, -2
I really like Stuart. Plays a simple game and moves the puck very well. Just like Harrington, I don’t think he’s NHL ready, but should be in a couple of years time.
Kasperi Kapanen – 4 Games Played, 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0
The roller-coaster ride continues. He really has had an up and down season. He struggled in the AHL this year with consistency and injuries. Then managed to have a pretty good World Juniors as he scored the Golden Goal for Finland. Unfortunately, his stint here was not impressive. He did not make much happen and was quite quiet. I still think personally that he will not be ready next season. Look for the season after that before he becomes a regular NHL player.
Rita Valiev – 6 Games Played, 0 Goals, 0 Assists, -1
This kid is only 20. He has a lot of promise as he has done very well in his first professional season. Like the others, I think he’s still a few years away from regularly sticking in the NHL, but I could see him developing into a top 4 defensemen. Excited to see what the future brings for Rinat Valiev.
Garret Sparks – 11 Games Played, 2.51 GAA, .904 Save %
The debate begins. Is Sparks or Bibeau the goalie of the future? I do not think so. I do not think either of these guys will develop into the number one elite goalie that the Leafs have been missing for so long. He has performed well with the big club, but I don’t see him as the goalie of the Leafs future.
Frederik Gauthier – 2 Games Played, 0 Goals, 0 Assists, -1
The most interesting of them all. The Leafs were criticized for taking Gauthier in the first round in 2013. He was 6’6 who was not a scoring forward, and was not a good skater. He was projected at a third line center at best. Is that where he’s going? I believe so. However, his skating has come a long way. He did not look out of place in the NHL, and had 2 very good games. His skating still needs to improve, and I’d love to see him add a little bit of a scoring touch, but the future is bright. He is an intelligent hockey player who I believe will soon enough become that shutdown centerman that the Leafs will cherish in the future.
In this post, I have chosen what I think to be the Leafs top prospects in order. I considered how close they are to the NHL, how well they are developing, how far away they are from the NHL, etc. So here is my Top 10, along with an additional 5 who didn’t quite cut it below the list.
5 Other Notables:
Today we are going to examine the Dion Phaneuf trade.
Who does Ottawa get?
Dion Phaneuf, Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert and Cody Donaghey.
Who does Toronto get?
Jared Cowen, Colin Greening, Milan Michalek Tobias Lindberg and Ottawa’s second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.
From Ottawa’s perspective: They are receiving a top 4 defenseman in Dion Phaneuf, along with some decent prospects. Phaneuf will take some minutes away from Karlson and Methot which will benefit Ottawa. Frattin and Rupert are career AHLers as far as I’m concerned. While Bailey and Donaghey are two interesting pieces. These are two players who could ultimately be NHLers at some point in time. Along with this trade, they are dumping the salaries of Cowan, Greening and Michalek.
From Toronto’s perspective: Bye bye captain. Phaneuf’s rather poor tenure has finally come to an end in Toronto. You have to feel for him, though. He was thrown right into the fire right after the trade from Calgary. Logging 25+ minutes a night has put him in the spotlight. I think the Leafs are happiest to get his contract off the books. Looking at the 3 players Toronto gets back, they accumulate to Phaneuf’s salary. So why make this deal? The 3 player’s contracts expire in 2 years, while Phaneuf still has 5 (I believe). What does this mean? Toronto will have 7 million available after the next 2 years to spend. This is a great component to the deal for the Leafs. Now let’s look at Lindberg. He is noted as a B prospect, and played for DJ Smith and the Oshawa Generals last year. He has transitioned fairly well into the AHL. He will be a good addition to the Marlies, and the Leafs future.
So, who won this trade? I must take the Leafs. The extra cap space, and the addition of Lindberg are great for the future of the Leafs. Great move by Leafs management.
It’s not as easy as it was last year to tank, so this is a longshot. This top 5 is deep, and the Leafs should cash in with whoever they pickup. We are going to look at the top 4, as that is who they should get.
So there are my players 1-4. Who will the Leafs end up with? We will find out in July. Who would you like them to get? Let me know! Hope you enjoyed these.
Discussing the Leafs pending UFAs and if they will be traded or will stay with the team.
Grabner – When you think of Grabner, you think of a penalty killer. I looked at some of the teams in the hunt with a poor PK. 2 teams that came up were Florida and the Rangers. I don’t see Florida taking him, but the Rangers could get him for a 6th round pick while Toronto eats some salary.
Matthias – The New Jersey Devils are still hanging around. Looking at their roster, not many expected them to be where they are today. Matthias could be a cheap option for some center depth for them. I believe he could snatch a 4th or a 5th.
Spaling – I don’t think Spaling is a very hot commodity. A piece that was thrown into the Kessel deal, who was not scored a single goal for the team. I believe he is the only pending UFA to finish the year in Toronto.
Parenteau – I have seen some rumors about him going to the Islanders and I love it. He is a guy who would compliment any team who has a tough time scoring. The rumor I saw was that he fetches a 1st rounder for the Islanders. Could that be the case? I don’t think so. Expect him to be worth about a 2nd and a later pick in the draft.
Arcobello – I believe that he could be a player that a cup contender would take a chance on. If a team gets some injuries down the middle, he can fill a fourth line void. I think he could go to a team like Washington who are not a team loaded with centers for a 7th.
Boyes – A scorer that is not worth a whole lot. If the Leafs can deal him, they will. The price for him will not be high at all. I see Nashville taking a chance on him for a 6th or a 7th. A team that needs some depth scoring could love to have him for the long haul.
Polak – He is one of the most sought after rental players in the league. He is a reliable defensive defenseman who would be a great piece to a cup contender’s third pair. I expect him to get the most interest from western conference teams. Could it be Chicago? I think it’s possible. Look at a team like Dallas. Real top heavy with a boatload of forwards and a mediocre defense. Polak could be a great addition for a cheap price. Polak to Dallas for a 2nd.
Reimer – To deal Reimer or to keep him is the question. He has had a terrific year stats wise. Although he’s tops in the league in save percentage, he is not an elite goalie, nor the goalie of the Leafs future. His value is at an alltime high. So who is a team looking to go for a run who could use a reliable backup? Nashville. If Pekka Rinne goes down, do you trust Carter Hutton in net? I don’t. I see Reimer going to the Preds for a 3rd and a 4th. You may ask where he signs come July 1. Will he return to Toronto? Well, that’s another story.
In this post, we are going to discuss some of the best pending unrestricted free agents and where they will go. We will be looking at Stamkos, Staal, Laad, Lucic, and Yandle.
Steven Stamkos
Where do I think we will go? I know where all Leafs fans want him to go. I’m going to try and be unbiased on this one. I think everyone knows he has some interest in coming to Toronto. Before Yzerman announced he wouldn’t be traded, I had a theory. If the Lightning traded him, then his chances would be slim. If he were to stay in Tampa, he would end up in Toronto. My verdict: he will sign in Toronto. He’s a hometown boy who in my opinion, would love to be in Toronto. Prediction: He will sign with Toronto for 8 years at 8 million (he will take a lower pay cut).
Eric Staal
Personally, I think Staal is overrated. He is nowhere close to the 8 million he has earned in the past. I see him taking a similar path to Franson this past summer. He expected a big payday when he eventually settled for a smaller amount of money. Prediction: He will sign in Montreal for 5 years at 6.5 million.
Andrew Laad
He is a player who is as good as gone from the Winnipeg Jets. He will be dealt at the deadline as a rental. Some suitors would be the Panthers, Predators, Bruins and Ducks. Prediction: He will sign in Nashville for 5 years at 7 million.
Milan Lucic
Milan is a player who the Kings can simply not afford. They have way too much salary dished out to players like Kopitar, Gaborik, Carter, Brown, etc. Milan will go for a cup run with the Kings, but opt for free agency in July. Prediction: He will sign in Vancouver for 6 years at 6 million.
Keith Yandle
The New York Rangers are trying to decide whether to trade Yandle, or stick it out with him and most likely lose him in free agency. I see him leaving New York and the Rangers not being able to afford him. Prediction: He will sign in Anaheim for 5.5 million.
For the sake of the enjoyment, I’m going to say that the Leafs are blessed with the first overall pick. The other 13 will be a random selection.
1 – Toronto Maple Leafs select Auston Matthews
A gifted talent that was two days late for the 2015 draft. In my opinion, if he were in that draft, he would have gone before Jack Eichel. The Leafs finally get the number one center they have truly been waiting for. The rebuild continues in Toronto but looks more promising than ever before.
2 – Columbus Blue Jackets select Patrick Laine
After a great showing in the World Juniors, Laine has improved his stock tremendously. He is a tall strong winger with a NHL caliber shot. He would have a great chance at cracking the NHL squad in October. A great selection by the Jackets to compliment the young pieces they currently have.
3 – Edmonton Oilers select Jakob Chychrun
The Oilers do not need any more forwards. Chychrun is the most highly touted defenseman in this draft and will make a great defensive prospect for the Oilers. He and Nurse would be a great tandum down the road. If they can add another great defensive prospect next draft, they may in fact make the playoffs in the following years. But then again, it is the Oilers.
4 – Buffalo Sabres select Jesse Puljujarvi
The Sabres will get a similar piece to what the Blue Jackets get. A promising big forward with lots of upside. Similar to the first two picks, it is going to be possible for Puljujravi to make the jump right away to the NHL.
5 – Winnipeg Jets select Alexander Nylander
The Jets were forced to settle with Ehlers two years ago at the ninth selection; one pick away from William Nylander, the brother of Alex. Although they have different playing styles, I think Alex will be a similar prospect to what William has become in the Leafs system. If the Leafs fall to a pick in this area, I expect them to take Nylander.
6 – Calgary Flames select Olli Juolevi
The Flames have some good promising stars in Monohan and Gaudreau. Although I think Tkachuk would be likely to go here, I see the Flames taking Juolevi. His stock, along with the other two fins, increased dramatically after an exceptional World Juniors. Olli should have a great professional career, and a great pickup for any team selecting at number 6.
7 – Carolina Hurricanes select Matthew Tkachuk
Even though he is a great player, I see him falling to number 7 come draft day. Although he did not play poorly by any stretch, he did not help himself out as much as the others above him have.
8 – Vancouver Canucks select Mikhail Sergachev
A good two-way defenseman who would fit in great with the Canucks system. They do not need any more forward help with the bright futures of Virtanen and McCann.
9 – Colorado Avalanche select Max Jones
A good power forward who will compliment the strong group of forwards that Colorado already has.
10 – Philadelphia Flyers select Julian Gauthier
The Flyers are very rich in the defensive prospect sector. A prospect that is big and can put the puck in the net is a great player for the Flyers to select.
Toronto Maple Leafs 