What’s the biggest priority for the Maple Leafs this summer?
There will be changes in Toronto, it’s inevitable. But, what will the priority be?
Matt Larkin joins Daily Faceoff Live to discuss what the biggest priority for the Maple Leafs will be this summer.
Frank Seravalli: So, what’s the biggest priority for Toronto this summer?
Matt Larkin: I think it’s actually to find a puck-moving defenseman. It is not Morgan Rielly anymore. If you look at the repeated problems of the Leafs being hemmed into their own zone against Ottawa, not just Florida, they could not clear the zone. Yes, they were blocking a lot of shots because they didn’t have the puck. They had so much trouble clearing the zone. They have great shot blockers, they have great physicality on the blue line, but they no longer have that number one horse who’s a great skater and can take the puck out of trouble with the puck on his stick.
Matt Larkin: But I think we saw in this series he’s really slowed down, maybe we’re gonna find out he’s been dealing with some kind of injury as well. There’s always that, but he’s not the same player he was even a couple of years ago. It’s difficult because if you look at the free agent market, it’s guys like Ivan Provorov, Vladislav Gavrikov; there isn’t really a true, perfect puck mover available in free agency. If you’re gonna find one, it’s gotta be the trade market, whether it’s gonna be a Noah Dobson, you try to kick the tires on, whether you try to seek something crazy like a Rasmus Dahlin, the Leafs need their version of Miro Heiskanen, Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, those guys do not grow on trees, but I think it’s the number one thing they’re missing in these playoffs.
Frank Seravalli: It’s an interesting thing you said that, because I definitely agree with in nature of that is a need for sure. But is the need not to just you need dogs, like to quote and add some cate, you need guys that are in the fight with you, you need guys that can help get you over the finish line when you get to tough situations like this, don’t you just need a Sam Bennett?
Matt Larkin: If you’re willing to think short term, you could take that money, that $14 million, you throw it at Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand. Then you get your two dogs, your guys who can play a heavy game with skill, have clutch experience, and you have to understand if you’re the least in that scenario, you’re definitely sacrificing sustained success in that case, but maybe it’s worth it. I mean, you’ve done your s your sustained success. You’ve had nine years of being competitive 100-point seasons, and you can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over.