Subj : Maple Leafs' 4 Free Agent Defence Targets
To : All
From : The Hockey Writers
Date : Sat Jul 04 2020 04:40 am
At this point, the Stanley Cup would have been awarded, we'd know where Alexis
Lafreniere has ended up, and we'd be at the start of the free-agent frenzy
period. Unfortunately, the world had other plans.
Related: The Worst Free-Agent Signings in NHL History
While the NHL schedule has been thrown off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, like
the draft, the free-agent period has been postponed for the time being. TSN's
Bob McKenzie reported that the Free Agent Frenzy would begin on November 1st,
once the season has finally come to a conclusion.
On critical dates, one we can pencil in - we are using @TSNquizmaster's No. 2
pencil - is Free Agent Frenzy(?) on Nov. 1, 2020. We know this, for now,
because 2019-20 contracts set to expire on June 30 have been extended to Oct.
31. So Nov. 1 would be Day 1 of 2020-21 contracts.- Bob McKenzie
(@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 2, 2020
With the salary cap potentially staying at $81.5 million over the next three
seasons, this puts a damper on the free-agent plans of many teams, especially
the Toronto Maple Leafs who are already dealing with a cap crunch themselves.
However, they could look to bring in some helpful names, particularly on
defence.
With Cody Ceci and Tyson Barrie being unrestricted free agents and their
combined $7.25 million coming off the books, the Maple Leafs could sign one,
maybe two right-shot defensemen at a reasonable price while still addressing a
positional need. As this season showed, the defence is still their main
weakness, as they seem to be set up front with the offensive weapons they have.
All eyes will be on Alex Pietrangelo, but here are four other free-agent
options for the Maple Leafs when the frenzy begins.
Dustin Byfuglien
2018-19 cap hit, $7,600,000
When the Winnipeg Jets and Dustin Byfuglien decided to part ways in April, many
speculated on his return to play. While nothing has been determined about his
future, he's still considered to be a really big commodity on the free-agent
market with many teams lining up for his services if he's healthy and able to
play. One of those teams should be the Maple Leafs.
Former Winnipeg Jets'; defenseman Dustin Byfuglien could be helpful to the
Toronto Maple Leafs defence. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jeff Roberson)
Byfuglien is one of the most feared players on the ice. He brings a physical
presence that the Maple Leafs lack as well as being a consistent, offensive
contributor while eating up big minutes in a potential top-pairing role. The
Maple Leafs have been looking for a top right-handed, point-producing defender
and Bfyuglien fits that description.
It's very unlikely that Byfuglien would get the same contract that he initially
had before his contract with the Jets was terminated. No one would give up
that much money for a player who missed out on a full season recovering from
surgery to repair a high ankle sprain. If anything, teams might be willing to
give him a short-term deal, around the same term that Kevin Shattenkirk got
when he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning after the New York Rangers bought
him out.
While it may be risky, a cheap deal for a player potentially capable of playing
big minutes and known to score 20 goals seems like a good risk to take if
you';re the Maple Leafs.
Dylan DeMelo
2019-20 cap hit, $900,000
Probably one of the most underrated players heading to free agency, Dylan
DeMelo is certainly a name that could benefit the Maple Leafs, both on the ice
and managing their current cap situation.
Dylan DeMelo, Winnipeg Jets (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Offensively, DeMelo may not find himself on the score sheet as often as
Byfuglien, but his decision-making with the puck and ability to be in great
position in his own end is what might make him sought after when the market
opens up. Despite the lack of offense, with a minimum of 200 minutes played,
DeMelo ranked second on the team in CF% (team's Corsi percentage when that
player is on the ice) with 52.37 and first in Shots For percentage (52.93) when
he was on the ice.
Related: Maple Leafs'; Forgotten Ones - Jeff Finger
Those are good numbers considering he was on a poor Ottawa Senators team before
being traded to the Winnipeg Jets. He's a great playmaker and is able to make
accurate long stretch passes to his teammates.
DeMelo has proved to be effective at shot suppression and minimizing the
chances against when he is on the ice. According to Natural Stat Trick in
descending order, he ranked 13th on the team in both Scoring Chances Against
(338) and High Danger Corsi Against (135). DeMelo's ability to provide an
excellent two-way presence on a team that desperately needs help in their own
end will certainly benefit the Maple Leafs as possibly a third-pairing player.
Chris Tanev
2019-20 cap hit $4,450,000
The Maple Leafs, through rumours, have been linked to Chris Tanev for quite
some time. Much like Byfuglien, he fits the description of a shutdown
defenseman, only he tends to focus more on the defensive side of things.
Interesting report from @DhaliwalSports on Chris Tanev being in play. Reasons
for the #Leafs to be interested, he is 28, a RH shot, Toronto native, meshed
well with Morgan Rielly at the World Championships in 2016 and the cost for him
should be in the reasonable range.- Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) June 20,
2018
The Maple Leafs have been lacking in defence for years and Tanev brings a
steady presence in his own end. For years he's been one of the Vancouver
Canucks' go-to players on the back end, earning big minutes while playing
relatively well against tough competition in the past.
Since 2013-14, Tanev has averaged over 20 minutes per game five times, while
falling short of the mark twice with the Canucks. This year he ranked sixth on
the team in time on ice per game and first in shorthanded time on ice with 3:25
per game. His five-on-five on-ice possession numbers have fallen off over the
past few years, but he still manages to get the job done in a shutdown role.
He's able to get into good position and block the puck from getting to the net,
as his 159 blocked shots rank fourth in the league.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
It's also worth noting that Tanev and Morgan Rielly were paired with each other
during the 2016 World Hockey Championship, so there's some familiarity with
the two. They really seemed to complement each other during the tournament as
Rielly was able to push the play forward, while Tanev provided his defensive
style and was able to back up his defensive partner.
The only knock on Tanev is his ability to stay healthy, as he hasn';t managed
to play a full 82-game season throughout his career since his first full season
in 2013-14. In addition, he'd probably be more suited in a second- or
third-pairing role as opposed to a first with Reilly. The Maple Leafs could
give him less than what he's making now knowing his injury history, or just
pass on him altogether.
Radko Gudas
2019-20 cap hit, $3,350,000
He has a long list of being fined and suspended, but having a fierce, physical
player like Gudas on the Maple Leafs blue line will make teams second guess
making a questionable play.
There is more to Gudas than just physicality and big-body presence. Like Tanev,
he's capable of good shutdown, defensive coverage in his own end and is
difficult to go up against in front of the net. You would not think it, but his
possession numbers are pretty good for a player of his abilities.
Radko Gudas, Washington Capitals (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
This year at five-on-five, his Corsi For per 60 is at 58.06 and his Individual
Corsi For per 60 is at 12.57. Throughout his career, his possession numbers
have been consistent in terms of his CF% and his Goals For percentage.
Related: 7 Biggest NHL Players in Today';s Game
Gudas would most likely serve in a third-pairing role while being able to see
some minutes on the penalty kill. Gudas ranked third on the Washington Capitals
in shorthanded time on ice per game with 2:44. A depth piece and his ability
to bring a physical, shut down style will go along way for any team, including
the Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs'; cap situation just got tougher with the cap remaining the
same for three years. They can use all the help they can get by adding
affordable and reliable depth options in order to stay under the cap and put
forth a steady blueline as defence remains an area of improvement. Who do you
think should be a free-agent target for the Maple Leafs?
Statistics from Natural Stat Trick.
The post Maple Leafs'; 4 Free Agent Defence Targets appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.
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