Maple Leafs remodel blue line, hope for goalie health in frenzy of signings
‘Work to do yet’: Treliving assesses state of Maple Leafs roster
Toronto Maple Leafs general manger Brad Treliving takes a closer look at the state of his roster after Day 1 of free agency, saying that the Leafs added ‘tremendous’ pieces, but that work is still needed to fill out the lineup.
TORONTO — If there is reason to believe that the Toronto Maple Leafs are shaping up to dress a better roster next fall than the one that finished third in the Atlantic Division and bowed out in the first round, it starts at the back end.
General manager Brad Treliving made it crystal clear heading into July 1’s first $1-billion spending frenzy that his top priority was his blue line, and instead of making the big splash, he made three veteran additions that could improve the corps.
Chris Tanev instantly becomes the top-pair right shot whose hardnosed defensive game should complement Morgan Rielly’s well.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson — not 24 hours removed from a Stanley Cup parade — brings versatility (the lefty can play his off side), experience, and another power-play option.
And low-cost righty Jani Hakanpää (two years at $1.5 million) should aid a penalty kill that fell to 23rd overall last season (76.9 per cent), second-worst among all playoff teams.
That the Leafs also re-signed Timothy Liljegren, who Treliving believes hasn’t played his best hockey, means they suddenly have seven or eight NHL-level D-men under contract.
Making sense of the 6-year term for Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev
“I’d rather have too many than not enough,” Treliving said Monday, via Zoom from Las Vegas. “When I look at the defence now, it’s got a good blend.
“It certainly gives the coaching staff options.”
Certainly, the 34-year-old Tanev (six years) and 32-year-old Ekman-Larsson (four years) got overpaid in security, but such is the UFA game on the day the cap ceiling enjoys its highest spike in six summers.
“I’ve got a history with Oliver. He’s a smooth player. He moves well, good legs,” said Treliving, who was in the Coyotes front office when OEL was breaking franchise scoring records for a D-man.
“The first thing to go on a player, usually, is the mobility, skating. He’s a fluid player, so ultimately, at the end of the day, we’re comfortable with a four-year term.”
Four years is how deep Treliving went on a Max Domi extension, which left no budget to retain Tyler Bertuzzi and a top-six hole on the left wing.
“Getting Max back was a priority,” Treliving said. “Competitive kid. We all know Max. He wears his heart on his sleeve, is able to bounce around the lineup, do different jobs.”
Despite being high on prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten — a projected 3C who would benefit from a season in the AHL — Treliving continues to root around the bargain bin and explore trade options up front.
“We certainly don’t want to start jamming young players in if they’re not ready,” Treliving said.
“At the end of the day, they’ve got to show that they’re ready to play in the man’s league, and that’s what training camp is for. We think they’re great young players, but we certainly don’t want to put them in a position to fail.”
