Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving did some nice work this past offseason—at least in the short term—by adding two quality defencemen in Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Both have fit in quite nicely as Leafs, giving the team what is likely their best blueline of the salary cap era. The two veterans have brought stability, Tanev in a shutdown role alongside Jake McCabe, and Ekman-Larsson as a versatile option on either side.
The Leafs have had some other positive developments as well. Philippe Myers has proven himself a valuable contributor on the right side with Morgan Rielly, easing any disappointment from an injured Jani Hakanpaa. Conor Timmins is playing his best hockey, beating out Timothy Liljegren for a spot.
Still, it might not be enough to bring the Leafs to their goal. As much as the blueline is improved it is still lacking. Without a viable Norris Trophy candidate the Leafs have to rely on depth and chemistry. This can be a precarious balance, as a single injury can dismantle the group. Recently, an injured McCabe noticeably diminished the blueline, perhaps even the team as a whole.
It may seem contradictory, but the blueline is simultaneously quite good and in need of upgrades. The short term is obvious, but from a long term perspective this might even be more dire. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the Leafs might accomplish this goal.
Would John Klingberg help?
It appears that former Leaf John Klingberg is hoping to make an NHL return this season after missing most of last season with a hip injury. The aspiration is that Klingberg can be a cheap and effective reinforcement, a free agent who can help increase the offence from the Leafs backend. The likelihood of this happening is not high, as Klingberg has not been a top-four defenceman in years, perhaps as far back as when Rick Bowness took over the Dallas Stars bench. After lacklustre stops with the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild, Klingberg appeared in 14 games with the Leafs before being shut down.
Clearly, the Leafs have been interested in Klingberg in the past, and as a right shot, he might still have some believers within the organization. A reason to hope for a bounce back is Ekman-Larsson, who appeared to be suffering from injury-related decline before rebuilding himself into an effective defenceman. Klingberg will face an uphill battle of doing so, a combined -85 in his past 266 NHL games. Plus/minus is not a perfect stat, but Klingberg’s defensive performance is a long-standing issue.
The Rielly problem
The premise of the Leafs adding a similar style defenceman might have something fans, especially given the team’s scoring and power play woes. With Rielly in the lineup, another left shot who is only an offensive option is not ideal. Acquiring a player who is better than Rielly will also be quite costly.
An example here might be Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres, with speculations surrounding his trade availability, not to mention the cost. It was Casey Mittelstadt who was swapped for Byram just last season, a young second-line centre. Despite the Sabres struggles, Byram has only further improved his value in a bigger role since that trade.
Byram is still coming into his own, and already more impactful than Rielly by some accounts, but most of all fairly unaffordable for the Leafs. If the Leafs have the chance, a player of this calibre is worth reimagining the team for, regardless of handedness or skill set. Outside of that fantasy, there is not much reason to target a left shot.
Rielly was not in common discussions for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and his contract is not ideal. Some fans see the path to team success as offloading his contract. While there is some truth to all these facts, one more perspective must not be overlooked. Rielly still plays a huge part on this team, routinely plays his best for the playoffs, and has consistently allowed for a lot of his lower-calibre defence partners to thrive.
What to make of Conor Timmins
To an extent, Timmins is a fulcrum. He has done well to play the best hockey of his career after seasons lost to injury. Timmins might be a bit older than one thinks of for a prospect at 26, but he has yet to hit 200 total professional games across the NHL and AHL. Even prior to that, Timmins had missed an entire season due to injury.
Needless to say, his development has been shorter than one would expect, and getting into the swing of things might carry him higher. A right shot would have to beat out Conor Timmins, who is also playing on the penalty kill. Timmins would need to be replaced by a more well-rounded player.
Henchmen helpline
Philippe Myers has been great in this role, just as Ilya Lyubushkin and Luke Schenn have before. This success is well-earned, and not necessarily unexpected for Myers. As much as Myers’ talents are a reason, so too are his circumstances. Simon Benoit, for example, might excel alongside Rielly, were he right-handed. Myers has better skating and puck handling than Benoit, who is being circled as a weak link by some observers. Benoit was fantastic on a pairing with Jake McCabe last season, proof of concept for his excellence alongside Tanev this season.
Clearly, coach Craig Berube favours the attributes that Benoit and Myers bring to the lineup, but his spot is a much more affordable upgrade for the Leafs. A right shot might still be the preference, leaving McCabe and Ekman-Larsson on their strong sides. More than anything else, these players need to be reliable in-zone defenders and strong penalty killers. Swapping Benoit out of the lineup for an upgrade who might be available, perhaps Luke Schenn, would be a nice finishing touch to this blueline. But would it be enough?
Shopping
Unfortunately, especially given the results without McCabe, many believe the answer lies with a significant addition. The Leafs are among the NHL teams that push the envelope with more aggressive capology, so the if and how should be left more vague. The takeaway is that these players will cost a heavy toll. Without a 2025 1st round pick, the Leafs would be forced to deal from a position of weakness in trade negotiations and bidding wars. An unprotected 2026 1st would be a bold manoeuvre, perhaps unwise. One of Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan might need to be included in the biggest deals as well.
Right shots: Rasmus Andersson, Scott Mayfield
Both are physical defensive right shots who penalty kill and have some term remaining on their value deals. Andersson is the big fish, a far superior player who could vault himself firmly into the top tier of the Leafs depth chart. Andersson brings enough on both sides of the puck to fit with any style of partner. Mayfield, on the other hand, would need a partner to help with moving the puck.
For the Leafs, either of these defencemen are slam dunks, and would be suitable defensive partners for Rielly, McCabe, or Ekman-Larsson. Timmins and Myers would be left to battle out the final spot, which could ebb and flow throughout a season or playoff series.
Left shots: K’Andre Miller, Ivan Provorov, Ryan Lindgren, Marcus Pettersson
The left shots are certainly more complicated fits into the roster, and likely means that Benoit is out and Ekman-Larsson is playing on the right. Lindgren brings a reckless will for physical sacrifice akin to Tanev, while Pettersson plays a similar defensive role. Provorov has the most pedigree, but also some controversial off-ice stances. He and the Columbus Blue Jackets might both want to try to cling to the success they have found together recently.
Miller is the most interesting, a younger player having a down season and a team that is faltering. The New York Rangers would be foolish to sell low on Miller, and best case scenario the Leafs might get a player near Rasmus Andersson’s calibre at a lower price.
Big picture
The current blueline is good, but that does not necessarily mean good enough. If they are at full health is the biggest question, and even with that is the qualifier of it being temporary. Another question might be if better defensive support could be had from a stout third-line centre. The blueline is not young, and their already slim margins for error will only shorten if anyone loses a step.
Every offseason fans eulogize their hopes with calls for significant change, which is allegedly on the table. The Leafs have had a great season so far, adding Tanev, Ekman-Larsson, and Myers. They also drafted Ben Danford, a defensive right shot, with their 2024 1st-round pick. It is nearly impossible to acquire a perennial Norris Trophy candidate, which would represent the biggest change. Drafting or signing a player of this calibre would be nice, as would buying low on a younger player.
Prospects are nice, but the Leafs are invested in the here and now. Some future thinking moves might still be made, like when the team traded for Cade Webber last season. Their bets have not been perfect so far. Their needs must be weighed against their limited trade capital. The Leafs cannot make every move, even some that will work out incredibly well in the end, but they have been prioritizing their blueline.
