As most Toronto Maple Leafs followers know, the commerce deadline handed yesterday, and the group made some key strikes to bolster its roster for the stretch run. On this version of Toronto Maple Leafs Information & Rumours, I’ll take a look at the brand new additions to the group and the younger gamers who have been moved out. How will the 2 key acquisitions – Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo – influence the lineup?
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With the departure of promising prospects like Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin, how will the Maple Leafs’ group deal with the lack of its up-and-coming expertise? I’ll dive into these questions and extra because the Maple Leafs put together for a playoff push with a reshaped roster.
Merchandise One: Laughton Joins Hometown Maple Leafs From Flyers
The Maple Leafs introduced residence an Ontario boy after they reeled in heart Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers in change for a 2027 first-round decide and prospect Nikita Grebenkin. Laughton, an Oakville native, will be a part of his hometown group. He’s seeking to bounce again from a troublesome stretch, having scored simply as soon as in his final 12 video games.
It appears clear that Laughton will instantly step right into a middle-six function with the Maple Leafs. His skill to offer depth and add secondary scoring might see him as a part of the second power-play unit. The most effective match appears to be on the third-line heart spot, though he may additionally must shift to the wing to earn a extra outstanding function. On this, versatility helps.
Laughton can nonetheless contribute offensively and attain the 40-point mark with a robust end to the season. His addition to the roster offers Toronto extra depth and grit as they push for a deep playoff run.
Merchandise Two: Brandon Carlo Joins Leafs’ Blue Line in Commerce With Bruins
The Maple Leafs made one other transfer on the commerce deadline, buying defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins. As a lot as I hated to see it, Fraser Minten went the opposite method. As well as, the Maple Leafs additionally misplaced a conditional 2026 first-round decide and a 2025 fourth-round decide. Fortunately, Carlo isn’t a rental. He’s identified for his physicality and defensive expertise. Through the season, he scored one aim, collected 9 factors, and registered 64 hits and 119 blocks in 63 video games with the Bruins.
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Carlo’s defensive play will likely be a welcome addition to Toronto’s blue line. Anticipated to fit in on both the second or third pairing, Carlo will function a shutdown defenseman and add depth to the Maple Leafs’ defensive core as they push for the playoffs. His dimension and physicality will assist solidify the Maple Leafs’ protection, significantly in high-pressure video games – and he’s seen quite a lot of them.
Merchandise Three: Fraser Minten Was Struggling With the Marlies
About Fraser Minten? He began the season trying like a robust prospect for the Maple Leafs. He confirmed spectacular play with the large membership in the beginning of the season. Minten then began sturdy with the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Toronto Marlies, scoring three targets and including two assists in his first six video games. Nonetheless, Minten’s manufacturing has cooled since then. He had put up simply three targets and 5 assists in his final 20 video games. That might have been from shifting up and down with the group.
Initially, Minten appeared to have the potential to crack the Maple Leafs’ prime six, given his velocity and talent with the puck. These made him stand out in opposition to different AHL gamers. Recently, although, his efficiency has not been as spectacular. His play resembled different Marlies gamers like Alex Nylander, Nick Abruzzese, and Logan Shaw. In distinction, Alex Steeves (who stays with the group) has emerged as a extra impactful participant for the Marlies.
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Whereas Minten remains to be a younger, beneficial prospect, the commerce that despatched him to the Bruins in change for Carlo advantages each groups. Boston is rebuilding, and Minten will doubtless have a greater likelihood to advance with the Bruins than he would in a crowded Maple Leafs roster. This commerce will assist the Maple Leafs instantly, giving them an influence participant like Carlo.
Merchandise 4: The Maple Leafs Group Will Miss Minten and Grebenkin
The Marlies will deeply really feel the influence of Minten and Grebenkin’s departures. Because the AHL group fights for a first-round bye within the AHL playoffs, dropping a 3rd of their top-six forwards with out speedy replacements might damage their probabilities. The Marlies’ offense will take a big hit, which will likely be a troublesome blow for a group making an attempt to remain aggressive.
After a robust begin to the season, the Marlies have been a middling group for the reason that new yr, hovering round a .500 report. They’ve closely relied on Steeves for offensive manufacturing, with little else in scoring depth. With the lack of Minten and Grebenkin, it’s laborious to see the Marlies making a deep run within the playoffs. Their protection and goaltending are strong, however their playoff hopes are jeopardized with out adequate offense.
Talking of the Marlies, they now have a 17-game dropping streak in opposition to the Cleveland Monsters. On Wednesday, the Marlies suffered their seventeenth straight loss to the Monsters, a group they haven’t crushed in three years. The streak isn’t essentially as a consequence of Cleveland’s dominance, and plenty of of those video games have been tight contests, usually determined by only one or two targets with an empty-netter. Regardless of the shut video games, the Marlies have been unable to discover a option to chase the Monsters from their bedrooms.
What’s Subsequent for the Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs have positioned Max Pacioretty on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) as a consequence of an undisclosed harm. The earliest doable return date is March 15 in opposition to the Ottawa Senators. This transfer ensures Pacioretty will miss a minimum of three extra video games earlier than he could be activated from LTIR.
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With the Maple Leafs manipulating the wage cap following the commerce deadline, Pacioretty’s return provides one other layer of complexity to the roster. Even when wholesome, it’s anticipated that the veteran ahead will doubtless be restricted to the underside six minutes. As Toronto continues to regulate its lineup, Pacioretty’s influence on the group will rely upon how properly the ahead group is performing in his absence.
[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]
