Subj : Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Manson; Pesce, Borowiecki
To   : All
From : The Hockey Writers - Main
Date : Tue Sep 15 2020 04:40 am


In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I'll share the names of a
number of NHL defensemen who have been rumored to be possible good fits on the
Maple Leafs'; blue line. Then I'll take another look at rumors about a
Frederik Andersen trade. Recent events have made me doubt such a trade would
happen, but we really can't know for certain.Three Defensemen Who Might Head
Toronto's Way

The Maple Leafs'; priority is help on defense. In yesterday's Maple Leafs News
& Rumors, I reported that Hockey Night in Canada';s analyst and former NHL
general manager Brian Burke named the Maple Leafs Canada's best team. However,
he also noted that the team needed to trade some of its offensive firepower at
the forward position to secure solid defensive help.Related: Maple Leafs News &
Rumors: Further Thoughts About the Andersen Trade

Burke is far from alone. Redundant reports from NHL insiders echo that refrain
and offer personnel suggestions. Then hockey commentators like myself share
these players'; names with fans. That's what I'll do in this post. Of the more
than a dozen NHL defensemen I've looked at, I've selected three that might - in
my opinion, for one reason or another - fit the bill for the team in terms of
value, style of play, affordability, and a likelihood they might fit the roster
needs.Choice One: Mark Borowiecki

I think it might be likely that Dubas at least talks with Mark Borowiecki about
a contract. I had written about this possibility earlier last week in a post
and I think it's worth repeating. For some reason, either the Ottawa Senators
or Borowiecki himself have decided that the defenseman no longer is a viable
fit with the team. Honestly, I'm surprised at this turn of events. I follow the
Senators a bit and would have guessed he would remain a Senators for life. He
seems to be loved in the community.Mark Borowiecki, Ottawa Senators (Amy Irvin
/ The Hockey Writers)

Still, Borowiecki has announced he'll be testing free agency. I like him and
think he'd be a good fit in Toronto. That might be especially true if the Maple
Leafs'; plans for a bigger, more blockbuster-type trade don't transpire. If
the team can't hit a home run via trade or free agency, Borowiecki is
small-ball (as they say in baseball).

He's a physical, depth defenseman who brings his all every game. He's a hitting
machine who could work with any young defenseman the Maple Leafs might call up
through the ranks of its organization. One Borowiecki upside is that he'll
likely not be expensive. (I say "likely" because I might be wrong. For example,
if Senators general manager Pierre Dorion low-balled Borowiecki on a contract
offer, that might have prompted his entering free agency as a reaction to a
perceived embarrassment.)

Borowiecki is a solid leader, and while he isn't thought of as providing
offense, he did score 7 goals with 18 points during the 2019-20 season. And
those numbers came when playing with a really low-scoring team.Choice Two: Josh
Manson

The Anaheim Ducks, who are in the middle of a rebuild, and the Maple Leafs
might make good trade partners. Trading for Ducks defenseman Josh Manson works
on paper, with the Maple Leafs likely moving a mid-salaried young forward and
perhaps the 2020 first-round draft pick the team acquired from the Pittsburgh
Penguins. Manson's both a solid defenseman and is part of the Ducks';
leadership group - an alternate captain. From my perspective, bringing
leadership to the team is a plus in any trade.Related: 11 NHL Teams Without a
Stanley Cup

Manson would be a strong candidate for the Maple Leafs defense if the Ducks
consider making him available. He's a 6-foot-3, 220 pound, right-shot
defenseman who might be a quality shutdown pairing with Jake Muzzin. He also
had a down 2019-20 season, with only 1 goal and 8 assists in 50 games. (In
contrast, he scored 7 goals with 30 assists in 80 games during the 2017-18
season.) Still, he's not to be confused as an offensive defenseman by any
means.

Manson's also not a bargain player at $4.1 million per season, but he would
bring two years of term on his contract, which is something Dubas prizes.
Likely the Maple Leafs would have to move out Andreas Johnsson or Alex Kerfoot
simply to balance salary-in with salary-out in this deal. However, as I noted,
the Ducks are in the middle of a rebuild and might make such a trade.Josh
Manson, Anaheim Ducks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Additionally - and I suspect this is a radical thought - I keep thinking about
what trade value Nick Robertson might offer should Dubas consider moving him.
I'm wondering specifically what a team might make available for a combination
of Robertson and the first-round draft pick Dubas just picked up in the Kasperi
Kapanen trade.Related: What Happens if the Maple Leafs' Nick Robertson Is
Really Good?

Given Robertson's meteoric rise in status this season, I have to think he might
be a valuable trade chip. If teams traded for him, they would either hit a
home run or strike out. Such a trade might take guts for any NHL general
manager to pull off, but if it worked - wow. Robertson might fizzle, or might
turn out to be an Alex DeBrincat.Choice Three: Brett Pesce

Bringing up Brett Pesce from the Carolina Hurricanes as a trade option makes
perfect sense if it's accurate the Hurricanes are coveting Andersen as a
goalie. If so, an Andersen for Pesce trade works. The salaries don't quite
balance, because Pesce's signed on a $4.025 million contract through the
2023-24 season. However, as I noted, Dubas seems to love to trade for
longer-term contracts.

Pesce's a stay-at-home, top-four defender. He's also a strong penalty killer.
Offense or not, he's what the team needs.Brett Pesce, Carolina Hurricanes (Amy
Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Given their successful season and a wealth of resources on their blue line, the
Hurricanes could afford to move Pesce to the Maple Leafs if Andersen comes the
other way. But that's only if Dubas really is interested in moving Andersen,
which I'm coming to think might be a big "if."What's Next for the Maple Leafs?

I'm starting to wonder whether the Maple Leafs general manager really is
interested in trading Andersen or if he's just flying a trial balloon by
answering the phone when other teams call.Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple
Leafs (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Specifically, the Steve Simmons article from about a week ago has me thinking
about where the Maple Leafs really are. Simmons wrote that Dubas had gained a
reputation of suggesting his players are up for a trade, but then asking for
what seem like outrageous returns for them. If I accept that this is Dubas'
philosophy and then use it as a lens to assess what I'm seeing, it puts an
interesting light on recent trade rumors. (from "SIMMONS SUNDAY: Still waiting
on that Ujiri extension, Raptors," Toronto Sun, 06/09/20)Related: Turning Pro
vs. Playing College Hockey: Which Is Better?

All Dubas really said was that other teams were calling about Andersen and he's
answering the phone. Maybe that's exactly - and only - what's happening.

The post Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Manson, Pesce, Borowiecki & More appeared
first on The Hockey Writers.

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