The Toronto Maple Leafs would have loved to showcase their new post-free agency lineup in the playoffs, especially considering the recent first-round exit. However, general manager Brad Treliving is aware that his four additions, three re-signings, and any other moves this summer remain on paper for now, with three months and an 82-game season ahead. Having been with the team for a year, he’s learned to manage expectations in a Cup-starved market.
The roster has certainly grown after Treliving joined the near billion-dollar NHL spending spree on Canada Day. Whether the Leafs are better is yet to be determined.
The Leafs aimed to address their longstanding lack of blue line depth ahead of the trade deadline, signing Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson (OEL), and Jani Hakanpaa. OEL and new goaltender Anthony Stolarz signed right after the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup parade, and thus might have been too under the weather to talk to the media on Monday.
Max Domi expressed his enthusiasm for his four-year contract, while the Leafs avoided a future arbitration hearing with Timothy Liljegren by securing him on a two-year deal. Additionally, goalie Joseph Woll officially agreed to his extension.
“We’ve added depth,” a relieved Treliving said. “Right-handed shots, puck movers, guys in roles, special teams, proficient players, solid people. It gives the coaches a lot of options. But we don’t play until October. You won’t get everything done in one day.”
Adding Tanev, OEL, and Hakanpaa to a blue line that includes Morgan Rielly (Tanev’s likely partner), Jake McCabe, Simon Benoit, and Liljegren (possibly in a Swedish tandem with OEL), along with Conor Timmins, provides a decent starting grid.
Tanev, returning to his Toronto roots as the highest-paid newcomer at six years and a $4.5 million AAV, offers the Leafs a zone presence they’ve lacked since injuries pushed Jake Muzzin into premature retirement.
“In our meetings, we spoke of Chris, what he would bring, a right-hand shot, hard minutes,” Treliving said. “Oliver can play both sides, he’s competitive, he’s got length. Hakanpaa can kill penalties, something we wanted to improve, an area he can really shine in.
“You can never have enough defencemen. They’re so hard to get.”
While the team could not afford both forwards Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi, who also joined last year on a one-year deal hoping to end his travels around the league, Domi received a four-year, $15 million contract, while Bertuzzi signed with Chicago
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