In my most recent article, I wrote about two players who could help strengthen the heart of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Well, today I’m back with two players who can help strengthen the club’s top six. Based on what we know about former Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, he tried to get better every season. It finally looked like it had the right group of players this past season, but unfortunately, they’re still out of the 2023 NHL playoffs. Well, heading into the 2023 weekend, the organization has a A new voice in leadershipBrad Treliving, who was hired after the team let Dubas go. So now the question is, what is he going to do with the bottom six?
If you look back at the time he managed the Calgary Flames, they had a traditional bottom six. They had a third line that could check and score, followed by a checkered fourth line consisting of both Brett Ritchie and Milan Lucic. It’s safe to say that with all the Untied Free Agents (UFA) the Maple Leafs have, there will be a few changes before the puck drops in the 2023-24 season. So, let’s take a look at some of the options that stand out as players who could help bolster the club’s top six.
Milan Lucic
As mentioned earlier, Treliving had Lucic on his team in Calgary, so it wouldn’t be a complete shock if he spoke with his agent this offseason. However, bringing in Lucic could be a very smart plan for the organization. If you look at the previous qualifying round, there was an incident between Stephen Stamkos and Auston Matthews that led to what was classified as a fight but was more like a wrestling match. Plus, if you look back on other seasons, you’ll see other teams take liberties against top Toronto stars, but if you can add Lucic to the lineup, he can be the protector for the team’s best defender.
The biggest reason to bring in a player like Lucic is to hold your opponents accountable, which again Toronto seems to be lacking. Losek can also add some depth points, with 15-25 points on the season, and can contribute a solid 10-12 minutes a night to the team. He also has winning experience, and was part of the Boston Bruins team that beat the Vancouver Canucks in 2010 as well as the Bruins team that came back and beat the Maple Leafs in 2013. With his playoff experience, he can be a player who leans in those moments.
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He’s also the kind of player who commands respect, especially in the dressing room, which helps because you can never have enough leaders in your squad to help out when the going gets tough. Overall, Lucic is a player style that will make him a crowd favorite in town. He could be a good fit for the Maple Leafs on and off the ice on a cheap, $1 million, one-year contract.
Phil Kessel
After last year’s trade deadline, it looks like the Leafs Nation was excited to see Luke Schenn back in the Blue and White, especially now that the team is competitive. It will likely be the same as seeing Phil Kessel again with the Maple Leafs. During his time with the Maple Leafs, the team struggled and his relationship with the coaching staff was so depleted that a trade out of town was inevitable. Kessel is someone who can be counted on to play in all 82 games. He is the “Iron Man” of the NHL, With 1,064 consecutive games played, he leads the longest iron streak in NHL history. Kessel will also return to Toronto as a role player, not the face of the team as he was when he played there from 2009-2015. This would take the pressure off him to get out and play his game, contribute to the score sheet and get some second play unit time.
Kessel should be able to give the Maple Leafs anywhere from 35-45 points when playing the wing on the third line. As of right now, there are no players willing to play alongside him, however, if the Maple Leafs can bring back Ryan O’Reilly, he could step into a line with Kessel and possibly Nick Robertson or Matthew Kniss. If he is able to produce at a rate higher than 35-45 points, he could even step up to be the third member of a line with John Tavares and one out of Mitch Marner or William Nylander.
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This is why Kessel would be a great option for the club because even though he is 35 years old he can still be a reliable secondary player who knows what it takes to win and knows the pressure that comes with Toronto City. If he and the Maple Leafs can strike a deal, it should be about $2 million over the course of one year.
The Maple Leafs are in a very interesting place this off-season. Their head coach Sheldon Cave appears to be in limbo, and they have to worry about re-signing both Nylander and Matthews to an extension from July 1, 2023. Bunting, as well as a restricted free agent (RFA) in Ilya Samsonov, who may be looking for a raise this year. season too. The organization will have about $20 million in workspace, and many decisions to make regarding the future of the team, which is why they should target some deep players who know what it takes to win like Lucic and Kessel.