While this offseason promises intrigue no matter what, the Toronto Maple Leafs are undoubtedly going to bring an added element of excitement for hockey fans over the coming weeks. After a fifth straight first-round playoff loss, general manager Kyle Dubas will be under immense pressure this month to bring in names to help the team perform at a higher level throughout the regular season and playoffs. Many details are starting to emerge about Toronto’s plans for next season and how their roster may look. One thing that’s becoming apparent is that Zach Hyman likely isn’t part of the Maple Leafs’ future, as Elliotte Friedman’s 31 Thoughts column notes that an extension for the forward is unlikely to happen. Hyman’s received interest from both the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings, both teams who can and likely will offer him more money and term than Toronto is willing to offer. The absence of Hyman leaves a hole in the team’s top-six forward group that will need to be filled. It appears as though the Leafs already have some ideas about how to approach this:
- In a Saturday radio hit from Friedman, he mentions that the Leafs are circling back with the Detroit Red Wings about winger Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi, who missed all but nine games this season with a back injury, carries some financial uncertainty as he’s a pending restricted free agent. With him missing the past season due to injury, however, it’s likely that Bertuzzi only signs a one-year deal whether he’s dealt or not, taking him through his final year of RFA eligibility. It would keep the cost down for the Maple Leafs, who’ll continue to look to add at all positions this offseason.
- There’s little surprise that after such a disappointing end to the season, Toronto would look to shake up their coaching staff. An unbelievably poor power-play unit left a nasty streak on what was otherwise a successful regular season, prompting potential changes among head coach Sheldon Keefe’s associates. Friedman also reports in 31 Thoughts that the team may bring in former Arizona Coyotes bench boss Rick Tocchet as an assistant. While his time in the desert didn’t yield too much success, Tocchet’s garnered a solid track record as an assistant, especially during his time working with the Pittsburgh Penguins – in which he won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Friedman also mentioned Montreal Canadiens assistant Luke Richardson as a possible hire, but it’s unlikely the team would let him go. Richardson was a large part of Montreal’s playoff run, stepping in as the interim head coach while Dominique Ducharme missed the majority of their series against the Vegas Golden Knights due to COVID protocol.
Hyman is a amazing player. He plays playoff hockey in the regular season. I hope he gets paid.
he will get paid its about greed he is not worth more then 4 mill a year thats fact if he wants 5 he can walk. The grass is not always greener. He is almost 30 and injury prone due to the style he plays. I love the guy but 4 mill for 5 years is not pocket change.
Rick Tocchet would be a great add.
Toc would be such a good get for the leafs coaching staff. Wouldn’t mind Burt if he’s healthy and cheap but Zach is gone he’s had major knee surgeries is entering his 30s and will command big money off of a style that doesn’t age well
The Leafs are going nowhere in the playoffs with Matthews on the roster. He is taking up too much money for too little grit. The rag doll in this past playoff killed the team. It’s time to trade Matthews.
I love to hate my boys as much as the next guy but I believe you meant to say Marner
lol you are an idiot or a comedian . Lets trade the top goal scorer in the nhl and the player that is the best we have had in many years and if he remains a Maple leaf will be the best Toronto ever had.
I liked the leafs when they had Tucker, Sundin, Corson, Domi, Roberts, Joseph, McCabe etc man even as an oilers fan that was a hard nosed gritty but very talented team. Nobody wanted that core broken up. Now they have one of the top players in marner and y’all wanna ship him out…gimme a break. Kids what..24? What happened to loyalty to your best players. I hope he goes elsewhere and gets a ring after his next 90pt season. The problem isn’t marner I can tell you that.
@backhandinbaptist – I liked the Leafs when they had Keon, Bower, Kelly, Baun, and Mahovlich, just to name a few. And that Turk Broda guy wasn’t too shabby, even though the fitness factor wasn’t really there. I also liked those guys you mentioned, too, but shame on you for forgetting Wendel! And, the venerable legend himself, “Mike” O’Neill, aka @odognine2!
(grins widely) Eh, I’ll put in votes for Sittler, Salming, McDonald, Turnbull and Ellis, while we’re at it.
But eeeesh, yeah, OMG the whining. Yeah, Toronto’s had hard luck the last five years in the playoffs. But come on, Leafs fans. Six years ago, your boys had missed the playoffs TEN SEASONS out of ELEVEN. Detroit was the only team in NHL history that had a streak more awful. And you guys would have fallen to your knees and kissed the pavement if anyone had told you Toronto would have winning seasons and make the playoffs from there on forward. You wouldn’t have CARED about Cups: you just wanted to have a team that didn’t suck.
Seriously, guys, you’ve got a contender now. You’ve got your first genuine superstar since Frank Mahovlich was in his prime, and you’ve got the back half of a 1-2 punch that matches him point for point. Toronto has big cap problems and those first-round chokes sure aren’t fun (well, as a Bostonian, I might disagree there …), but man, Buffalo or Detroit or Ottawa or New Jersey or Anaheim would love to have your problems right now.
Come on get serious! We aren’t contenders yet really not close , sure we play good in the regular season but the playoffs are a different game and our team isn’t close to being built for them. Simmonds isn’t the answer our bottom 6 needs two way players not even two way just defensive first players. Tavares has a no move but he has never shown up in the play and made a difference, and Matthews smiling and laughing when someone is grabbing him is NOT what you do in the playoffs he needs to change soon
@Nha Trang – I’ll double those votes! :)
I won’t lie it’s borderline absurd they want to get rid of marner, Reilly and now I even see a guy wanting to ditch matthews cause he smiled in the playoffs…heaven forbid they have fun while playing…send Auston, Riellyband Marner to EDM. Judging by leafs fans valuation Kassian, Larsson and an autographed picture of Gretzky holding the cup post 8-track era should do the trick…
Has Moneypuck ever worked?
Tom Rowe, John Chayka, now Dubas. What have they done?
You need hockey people to win in hockey, not numbers people. Baseball is a different sport.
Leafs had Lou right there and they pushed him out the door for Kid Corsi. Smart.