For the first time in a long while, the Leafs have established a pretty deep pool of NHL calibre or NHL ready players, which creates a healthy competition for spots but also creates a significant evaluation process to figure who to keep and who to discard, or who can be discarded? This "deep depth" scenario will be very interesting to see how it plays out. The Leafs seems to be overloaded in forwards, a little less deep on the back-end and even thinner in nets. Here's a brief look at the depth chart for discussion purposes. It assumes, Boyes, Grabner and Parenteau are left to free agency, though I liked how Parenteau performed. Not only the goals; he was actually one guy that would get into a scrum to stick up for teammates even though he isn't very big.
Center
The wild card here of course is Austen Matthews?
Let's make it interesting and assume the Leafs get him. That would leaving centre looking something like this to...
Matthews
Kadri
Nylander
Bozak
Froese
Gauthier
What would likely happen? Either Nylander or Matthews could end up moving to the wing because I don't think Kadri is getting dealt, and they both either are top 6 or soon would be. The only way all three could remain at centre in 2016-17 is if Bozak got dealt. Froese and Gauthier battle for the number 4 spot. If the Leafs don't get Matthews, Bozak could start as number 2 center, but probably by mid-year slips to number 3 and could be dealt at trade deadline.
Left wing
Let's work on the premise, the Leafs get 2nd pick and end up with Laine. Depth chart probably looks like this...
JVR
Laine
Komorov
Greening, Holland, Laich (tough choices for 4th spot)
Then pushing those guys are Leipsic, Timoshov, Johnson and Dzierkels, decent prospects who could surprise. Leipsic probably has the inside track, with the others getting seasoning in the Marlies. But even with that, there's 4 guys fighting for the fourth line, unless some get moved or the Leafs don't end up with Laine. Or maybe they end up 4th and pick Tkachuk, another left winger.
Right wing
Let's pretend the Leafs pick 3rd and get Puljijarvi. Another case of overcrowding. Depth chart could look something like this.
Lupul (I am being generous, started this year on 3rd line)
Soshnokov
Marner
Puljijarvi
Hyman
Brown
Michalek
Leivo
Kapanen
Bracco
That's probably at least 8 NHL ready right wingers, assuming Kapanen needs more seasoning and Bracco just isn't ready. Lupul and Michalek obviously need to be moved. That would leave six. Let's take Puljijarvi out for a moment, that still leaves Soshnokov, Marner, Brown, Hyman and Leivo to battle it out for 4 spots.
Defence
Rielly
Gardiner
Hunwick
Marincin
Carrick
Corrado
Seem to be the top 6 at the moment. But pushing underneath are Valiev, Loov, then maybe, Percy and Harrington. Interesting up and comers are Travis Dermott and Andrew Nielson, who both had great camps and pre-seasons last year, and Babcock was really high on both of them. They followed that up with really strong junior seasons. Both are probably Marlies next year, but who knows. Apart from Rielly and Gardiner, who seem to both be bonafide top 4 D-men, Rielly first pairing, Gardiner second pairing, the Leafs could benefit from some enhancement in the top 4 D for next year. Too bad this wasn't a year when a D-man was in the top 3-4 class.
Goal
Depth
Bernier
Sparks
Bibeau
Not much else
Clearly the weakest area. Nice to see Bernier finish strong, but there was no pressure, playoff wise, or serious competition from another tender...ie. Reimer. I think the Leafs will make a move for another veteran goalie to create some competition again. I also think they might draft a top-rated goalie in the second round. I am hoping they go for Dylan Wells of Peterborough. I truly hope Bernier has overcome his challenges. He was highly rated and highly regarded. I think spending his first few years as a young goalie behind Jonathan Quick hurt his development. Now let me make this clear - I am NOT comparing him to Carey Price directly. I just want to point this out. Price was top goalie pick in the 1st round pick in 2005, 5th overall. In his first three season with the Habs he got in 134 games. It took Bernier 6 seasons after his draft (5 with the Kings, and his first in TO) to get in 126 games. Bernier was drafted a year after Price, also top netminder picked in 1st round, 11th overall. Even after his first three seasons with the Habs, there were those that questioned Price because his lack of playoff success. It wasn't until Price's 6th full season with the Habs, and more than 300 NHL games under his belt, that Price actually had a decent winning playoff season in 2014. Bernier so far has just 213 NHL games under his belt, 2/3 of what Price had when he turned things around for the better. I am hoping that Bernier can do the same. I DON'T MEAN - be the next Carey Price, I mean to mature as a solid #1 goalie. I think it takes time, and maybe with what he's gone through this year, maybe he's ready? That would be so perfect.
On top of all this depth, the Leafs have in this year's draft. two: first, second, third and fourth rounders, so plenty more coming down the pike. The point of the thread was just to demonstrate there are a lot of assets in the pipeline, so maybe packaging some this quantity for quality in two for one, or three for two trades, might be a way of increasing the quality.
It will at least be fun to see how all this plays out? And, we haven't even considered free agents...Stamkos or 2018 Tavares...probably the better option...
Center
The wild card here of course is Austen Matthews?
Let's make it interesting and assume the Leafs get him. That would leaving centre looking something like this to...
Matthews
Kadri
Nylander
Bozak
Froese
Gauthier
What would likely happen? Either Nylander or Matthews could end up moving to the wing because I don't think Kadri is getting dealt, and they both either are top 6 or soon would be. The only way all three could remain at centre in 2016-17 is if Bozak got dealt. Froese and Gauthier battle for the number 4 spot. If the Leafs don't get Matthews, Bozak could start as number 2 center, but probably by mid-year slips to number 3 and could be dealt at trade deadline.
Left wing
Let's work on the premise, the Leafs get 2nd pick and end up with Laine. Depth chart probably looks like this...
JVR
Laine
Komorov
Greening, Holland, Laich (tough choices for 4th spot)
Then pushing those guys are Leipsic, Timoshov, Johnson and Dzierkels, decent prospects who could surprise. Leipsic probably has the inside track, with the others getting seasoning in the Marlies. But even with that, there's 4 guys fighting for the fourth line, unless some get moved or the Leafs don't end up with Laine. Or maybe they end up 4th and pick Tkachuk, another left winger.
Right wing
Let's pretend the Leafs pick 3rd and get Puljijarvi. Another case of overcrowding. Depth chart could look something like this.
Lupul (I am being generous, started this year on 3rd line)
Soshnokov
Marner
Puljijarvi
Hyman
Brown
Michalek
Leivo
Kapanen
Bracco
That's probably at least 8 NHL ready right wingers, assuming Kapanen needs more seasoning and Bracco just isn't ready. Lupul and Michalek obviously need to be moved. That would leave six. Let's take Puljijarvi out for a moment, that still leaves Soshnokov, Marner, Brown, Hyman and Leivo to battle it out for 4 spots.
Defence
Rielly
Gardiner
Hunwick
Marincin
Carrick
Corrado
Seem to be the top 6 at the moment. But pushing underneath are Valiev, Loov, then maybe, Percy and Harrington. Interesting up and comers are Travis Dermott and Andrew Nielson, who both had great camps and pre-seasons last year, and Babcock was really high on both of them. They followed that up with really strong junior seasons. Both are probably Marlies next year, but who knows. Apart from Rielly and Gardiner, who seem to both be bonafide top 4 D-men, Rielly first pairing, Gardiner second pairing, the Leafs could benefit from some enhancement in the top 4 D for next year. Too bad this wasn't a year when a D-man was in the top 3-4 class.
Goal
Depth
Bernier
Sparks
Bibeau
Not much else
Clearly the weakest area. Nice to see Bernier finish strong, but there was no pressure, playoff wise, or serious competition from another tender...ie. Reimer. I think the Leafs will make a move for another veteran goalie to create some competition again. I also think they might draft a top-rated goalie in the second round. I am hoping they go for Dylan Wells of Peterborough. I truly hope Bernier has overcome his challenges. He was highly rated and highly regarded. I think spending his first few years as a young goalie behind Jonathan Quick hurt his development. Now let me make this clear - I am NOT comparing him to Carey Price directly. I just want to point this out. Price was top goalie pick in the 1st round pick in 2005, 5th overall. In his first three season with the Habs he got in 134 games. It took Bernier 6 seasons after his draft (5 with the Kings, and his first in TO) to get in 126 games. Bernier was drafted a year after Price, also top netminder picked in 1st round, 11th overall. Even after his first three seasons with the Habs, there were those that questioned Price because his lack of playoff success. It wasn't until Price's 6th full season with the Habs, and more than 300 NHL games under his belt, that Price actually had a decent winning playoff season in 2014. Bernier so far has just 213 NHL games under his belt, 2/3 of what Price had when he turned things around for the better. I am hoping that Bernier can do the same. I DON'T MEAN - be the next Carey Price, I mean to mature as a solid #1 goalie. I think it takes time, and maybe with what he's gone through this year, maybe he's ready? That would be so perfect.
On top of all this depth, the Leafs have in this year's draft. two: first, second, third and fourth rounders, so plenty more coming down the pike. The point of the thread was just to demonstrate there are a lot of assets in the pipeline, so maybe packaging some this quantity for quality in two for one, or three for two trades, might be a way of increasing the quality.
It will at least be fun to see how all this plays out? And, we haven't even considered free agents...Stamkos or 2018 Tavares...probably the better option...
