In wake of Chris Tanev harm, Maple Leafs cannot wait so as to add defenceman

Heading into this season the Maple Leafs’ defence was a pair issues: it was higher than the season prior, and it was additionally not ok. 

It was higher, as a result of Chris Tanev’s return alone was an improve over the regular reps substitutes like Philippe Myers had been getting, whereas the addition of Darren Raddysh gave the Leafs one other good proper shot who might man the ability play, as well.

The defence being “not good enough” is extra a reference to Toronto’s league-wide rating for those who had been to ballot GMs across the NHL about how this blue line compares to others. I doubt many would assume this group is “bad”, however I feel it’s honest to say that not many would rank them within the prime half of the league.

I figured, if wholesome, Toronto’s blue line — which appeared nearly solely comprised of second-pair stage of gamers — could possibly be ok to assist the Leafs return to the playoffs, however I feel all of us knew they wouldn’t get by means of the yr wholesome. No group does. And when accidents hit, who the heck is aware of the place they deliberate to show, as they appeared to have about 4 respectable No. 7 defencemen. Now, simply seven video games into the season, with some good and thrilling issues taking place with the group, the back-end has shortly highlighted itself as a capital-p Problem.

Tanev obtained damage on what seemed like a nothing play, spurring fears that it could possibly be one thing associated to the neck/whiplash-type harm he sustained early the season earlier than (although particulars of the particular harm haven’t been shared). Oliver Ekman-Larsson has missed skates for “maintenance,” which implied some nagging harm, and he hasn’t seemed notably nice when he has been on the market.

Morgan Rielly’s defending struggles haven’t gone away, Raddysh has needed to modify to a brand new group and system, and Jake McCabe has been shovelled the Leafs’ heaviest raise with D-zone begins and top-line matchups. Troy Stecher’s given all of them they might ask for and extra. He’s seventh on the group in ice time per sport, which is a kind of “damning with faint praise” statements. 

I like Stecher high quality, however he simply shouldn’t be this essential to any group’s success every day.

Now, by having to swap out Tanev for Nick Blankenburg, the Leafs don’t even have sufficient our bodies to fill clearly outlined roles inside their six. Raddysh will now need to kill penalties and eat more durable minutes with McCabe, whereas Stecher takes second pair reps with Rielly. Cue the drop on Real Kyper and Bourne of Brad May saying “Well it’s not good”.

In Utah the Leafs dressed seven defencemen, as Marshall Rifai obtained in, a toolsy low-end NHL blue liner who’s been put in a tricky spot, realizing his shifts might be few and much between. He desires to impress, however on the identical time he’s the kind of participant who’s doing effectively whenever you don’t discover him, which creates a battle. He seems to be nervous, and justifiably so.

Unfortunately, the Leafs don’t have time to let issues “play out.” Ben Danford is meant to assist defensively, however he gained’t step in as a 20-year-old and transfer the needle for them in any significant method but. We might undergo all of the choices right here (Dakota Mermis?), however take my phrase for it that, internally, they simply don’t have an answer. 

They’re saying the best issues about “next man up,” and the ahead group is sweet sufficient to attain and win some video games, however the Atlantic Division – heck, the league – is simply too good for the Leafs to slowly be taught a lesson they’re going to be taught in the event that they don’t make a change: this D-corps isn’t going to be good or deep sufficient to make the playoffs with out an improve or two.

As of Wednesday just one group within the Atlantic is under a .500 factors share, and all the Bruins, Senators, Lightning, Panthers, Sabres, and Canadiens are realistically playoff-level groups. Add within the Leafs and that’s seven groups in a single division who assume they’re ok to be in. The Leafs need to be lifelike about how excessive the bar is that they’re attempting to clear.

And so, we’re on the “now what” a part of the dialog, the place we’ve acknowledged the Leafs don’t have it internally, in order that they need to look exterior the group, and make a commerce.

The Pittsburgh Penguins lately swung two trades for depth defencemen, however the Leafs want a better stage than the kind of straightforward acquisitions that are inclined to occur in mid-October. And, given how few high quality draft picks and prospects they’ve to supply, Toronto needs to be certain they’re getting what they’re after once they do pull the set off. As a lot as it will be good to attend till the commerce deadline to see if extra high-quality defencemen grow to be obtainable, it could possibly be too late by then. Maybe you’ll be able to’t make the playoffs within the first quarter of the season, however you’ll be able to certain fall out of the race. Playing three elite Western Conference groups on the street helped spotlight that to hold with the most effective, Toronto wants this improve ahead of later.

Names being floated on the market embody Zach Whitecloud, who’s a hard-nosed middle-pair defenceman who would enhance the group’s physicality. While stylistically totally different, Rasmus Ristolainen in all probability slots in someplace much like Whitecloud. While each of them would assist the Leafs in comparison with what they’ve obtained now, neither man is a few elite puck-mover who would eat large minutes and considerably transfer the needle. 

And so, that is what lays on the toes of John Chayka, and in flip, head coach Jim Hiller. 

Chayka is asking GMs and discovering out what’s obtainable for them to even contemplate, and till then, Hiller has to assist out his defencemen by means of total group construction. The Leafs, with this a lot firepower — and, oh buddy, do they as soon as once more have firepower — are going to assist by outscoring their points on some nights. There are some under-talented groups on the market they need to make quick work of. And even once they fall behind, they will at all times get again right into a sport. 

But to construct one thing sustainably good, one thing that may maintain up for lengthy stretches of play in opposition to good opponents, Toronto’s subsequent step needs to be an addition on the back-end. I do know it, it, they usually comprehend it, it’s only a matter of who’s on the market, and the way a lot it can value.

As lengthy as Tanev is out, it can really feel like a race in opposition to the clock to discover a resolution, with every win shopping for them time earlier than it will get really determined. The forwards might be taking part in the opposition each night time, however till the Leafs get stronger on the again finish, they’ll have to beat a special type of problem, too.