One of the teams to closely watch for major developments this offseason is undoubtedly the Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL’s most valuable franchise has been reduced to rubble after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in 2017.
However, the Leafs’ decision to part ways with Brad Treliving shows that management is desperate to turn things around. The next general manager will first be expected to add key assets to the team to kickstart the rebuilding process. With that in mind, a high-performing Tampa Bay Lightning D-man may be on the Leafs’ radar.
Toronto Maple Leafs Could Be Interested in Tampa Bay Lightning’s Darren Raddysh
The season is over in April for the first time in nine years for the Leafs. Plenty of factors contributed to Toronto’s tragic downfall. First things first, the Mitch Marner problem was never adequately addressed by the franchise. Marner was not just a formidable element of the team’s offensive core four, but also a source of warmth and camaraderie in the locker room.
The team’s performance on defense has also been abysmal. The possibility of Morgan Rielly’s exit has been discussed extensively for good reason. Of the many areas the Leafs could benefit from some help in, defense surely stands out. Tampa’s 30-year-old blueliner Darren Raddysh has every reason to attract Toronto’s attention.
However, Elliotte Friedman believes that there are two reasons why things may not be as straightforward for the Leafs. First of all, the Lightning could just hand him an extension and pour cold water on the hopes of any team acquiring him. Second of all, the incoming Maple Leafs GM may not be on board with the idea of Toronto pursuing him at all.
“Number one, we don’t even know if he is going to hit free agency. Number two, how will the new general manager feel about that?” Friedman said, signaling his doubts.
Of course, Raddysh has just delivered a career-best season, accumulating 70 points in 73 games. The 30-year-old is also a formidable power play producer who could be a valuable addition to the revamped Maple Leafs if they want to rebuild around Matthews and William Nylander.
Freidman also considered the possibility of some trade development surrounding Matthew Knies. A rare intra-division trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the Leafs involving Knies reportedly developed at the deadline but did not ultimately materialize. Teams around the league must have noticed it, and the Leafs can expect widespread interest in Knies again.
“Teams know that the Maple Leafs kicked the tires on Knies. Some teams are going to come back and circle back and say, okay, that happened before. Where are we now?” Friedman explained.
Knies, however, expressed his intention to stay in Toronto in his exit interview. The 23-year-old does not view trade speculation surrounding him positively, noting that he loves the franchise and his teammates. “I wouldn’t want to look at it as a compliment, I’d look at it as a crappy thing. I don’t want to leave this group of guys. It doesn’t really matter what it was. I wouldn’t want to leave here,” Knies told reporters.
The next GM of the Maple Leafs will inherit a team that is plagued by pressing problems that urgently need to be solved for it to become competitive again.
READ MORE: Maple Leafs HC Addresses If Mitch Marner’s Exit Doomed Toronto’s Season
