The Toronto Maple Leafs would benefit by adding more points and physicality to their top six unit. The team will almost certainly make the playoffs, but how they do is another matter. Not so good so far. The team has not won a playoff round since 2004.
Related:7 Cities That Make Sense for an NHL Relocation
The postseason is a different beast than the regular season. NHL teams need to step up their physical game to match the opponent's intensity. Last season, the Maple Leafs were a top five team in terms of regular season hitting, but struggled in the playoffs with increased physical intensity. Also, they just didn't get it right when needed.
This is where Canadians' Josh Anderson fits in
A player like the Montreal Canadiens plays there.jose andersonfits. He's physical, has an offensive mindset, and has something else in his contract that Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas appreciates: He's got stability. He has a salary cap of$5.5 million for the 2026-27 season, and then he will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA). He is also from nearby Burlington.
although there is a lot of noiseTimo MeierWhen it gets to the Maple Leafs I just won't buy it. Despite being the type of player the Toronto board wants, his contract situation just doesn't mesh well with the group's way of working. And like it or not, the Maple Leafs leadership team remains true to its form and philosophy.
Find out all about ice hockey with THW's HockeypediaPages.
The Maple Leafs were criticized for being too sensitive and not having enough physicality in their lineup. While they have players who can hit hard, they lack the physical depth of teams like the Boston Bruins. The Maple Leafs are not known for their grueling, physical style of play. Anderson would positively complement this mix.
Anderson would be a good option
Ultimately, the Maple Leafs' lack of playoff success isn't just down to the team's physical play, but it's certainly a factor. To have any chance of winning the Stanley Cup, the team must find a way to play stronger and more physically, especially when competition is fiercer.
Related:Maple Leafs deve ter um QuietTradeDeadline
Anderson could be a good fit for the Maple Leafs as they look to add more physicality to their lineup. He is a tall and physical forward who can play a top 6 role and contribute offensively. He has a good shot and is ready to go into the dirty areas of the ice to score goals.
Anderson also has a strong playoff record, which could be a valuable asset to the Maple Leafs, who have struggled in recent years. Given the talk of Meier and the other greats the Maple Leafs could do, it looks like the organization could squeeze Anderson under the salary cap just as easily as any of the other players said to be on the way.
Make room for Anderson
The Maple Leafs would need to take some steps to make room in the salary cap to accommodate Anderson's $5.5 million cap. That likely means some of his current players will move or negotiate a deal that would allow the Canadians to keep part of Anderson's salary. However, there are creative moves that could involve sending contracts to the Toronto Marlies until the postseason if the salary cap is not an issue.
Latest news and highlights
As James Myrtle writes:
“Assuming they are in good health, the Leafs will demote as many players as possible before the deadline to create additional salary cap space. With LTIR, they can hit the $6.42 million cap (the combination of [Jake] Muzzin and [Nic] Robertson hit the cap), but they took a lot of advantage of that by putting additional players on the roster." (from: " How the Maples Leafs can find a way to make a blockbuster trade," James Mirtle,the athlete02.08.2023.)
Related:Frederik Andersen's Unforgivable Sin According to Maple Leafs Fans
The Anderson acquisition could be a good move as the Maple Leafs look to add more physicality to the lineup for a deeper playoff run. However, like any other acquisition, they would need to assess the impact on the salary cap and see if Anderson is the right man for their team.
Anderson hits the nail on the head, but there are considerations
I think Anderson is right. He would bring the kind of physicality to the Maple Leafs lineup that Tom Wilson provides in Washington with the Capitals. He has a good combination of size, physique and offensive ability that would make him a valuable asset to this team. However, there are also some potential downsides to consider.
One of the biggest considerations is Anderson's contract, which has five seasons remaining with a salary cap of $5.5 million. In a way, that's a decent salary for Anderson. If not, the salary cap is enough of a consideration for the Maple Leafs to find a way to lower his contract below it. Depending on what aspects passed to Canadians, is there any situation where Montreal would consider keeping part of your salary?
Furthermore, Anderson would have been 33 years old when his contract expired. While this may raise questions about its longevity and possible performance degradation, that's for later. It seems to mean little for the foreseeable future and the end of the 2022-23 season.
Related:Reunion with Lightning's successful swap for Blake Coleman
Indeed, similar concerns have been raisedzach hymannwhen he left the Maple Leafs to sign with the Edmonton Oilers. However, Hyman is having a racing season which makes the question moot, at least a question for another time. This season is too important to worry so far away on the Autobahn.
Anderson would be a solid addition to the Maple Leafs
Overall, Anderson would be a good option for the Maple Leafs. It's just the puzzle piece the team is looking for as it prepares to face the Tampa Bay Lightning again in the first round of the postseason playoffs.
Anderson meets the specific needs of the Maple Leafs at this point in their history. His physicality and offensive prowess would be a valuable addition to the Maple Leafs' starting six forwards.
Since the front row of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Micheal Bunting looks like a done deal, he would likely take Jarnkrok Street's spot on the team's second row. Given his size and physical playing style, this would add an additional new dimension to the Maple Leafs game. This would be especially true in the playoffs, where physical play becomes more important.
Weighing the pros and cons of including Anderson
Ultimately, the Maple Leafs will need to weigh the pros and cons of acquiring Anderson to determine whether his addition would move them closer to a Stanley Cup contender, while also considering their long-term goals.
There is a lot of talk about trades that aggregate other forwards. From what I've read, Anderson's name has not been associated with the Maple Leafs. However, given what I believe about the needs of the team and how this management group thinks, I wouldn't be surprised if Dubas goes ahead with this particular deal.
For my money, Anderson checks more boxes than any other trade term contender. If I had one vote, my trade deadline move would be Josh Anderson.
FAQs
Who did the Leafs add? ›
Maple Leafs Acquire Defenceman Luke Schenn From Canucks
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has acquired defenceman Luke Schenn from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a third round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Maple Leafs Complete Trade With Washington Capitals
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has acquired defenceman Erik Gustafsson and Boston's first round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft from the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenceman Rasmus Sandin.
On this day in 2003, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Owen Nolan from the San Jose Sharks. In return, the Leafs sent off Brad Boyes, Alyn McCauley, and a 2003 1st round pick that later was traded to Boston.
Who got traded in the NHL? ›- Ducks Trade John Klingberg to Wild. ...
- Flames Acquire Troy Stecher, Nick Ritchie From Coyotes for Connor Mackey,... ...
- Wild Acquire Sundqvist from Red Wings. ...
- Maple Leafs Trade Dryden Hunt to Flames. ...
- Wild Trade Jordan Greenway to Sabres. ...
- Penguins Acquire Nick Bonino From Sharks, Canadiens Retain Salary.
Craig FulfordThe Tanned Guy Behind The Leafs Bench.
Which players did the Leafs get? ›Recalled G Erik Kallgren from Toronto. Recalled F Nolan Walker from Toronto (AHL). Recalled LW Alex Steeves from Toronto (AHL). Signed D Conor Timmins to a two-year contract extension.
Who did the Leafs pick up at the trade deadline? ›In one Tuesday afternoon the Maple Leafs swung three trades, acquiring Luke Schenn, Erik Gustafsson and a 2023 first-round draft pick, leaning into this playoff run while getting back into Round 1 of what's projected as one of the deepest draft classes in years.
Did the Leafs sell out? ›Maple Leafs yet to sell out a game this season. To put into perspective, the percentage of tickets sold for the first three games were 98.3% capacity for their season opener, 96.8% for Saturday's game, and 96.2% for their most recent contest.
What did Leafs trade for Foligno? ›Nick Foligno was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday in a three-team trade involving the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks. Columbus traded the forward for a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft from Toronto.
Who did the Leafs trade for Jake muzzin? ›Jake Muzzin was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday in a trade from the Los Angeles Kings for forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to defenseman Sean Durzi and a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Muzzin can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2019-20 season.
What did Leafs trade for Jack Campbell? ›
TORONTO -- Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday for Trevor Moore, a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Campbell, a 28-year-old goalie, is 8-10-2 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .
Who won the Gretzky trade? ›Winner: Mark Messier
Wayne Gretzky leaving Edmonton made the Oilers Mark Messier's team. The superstar forward was a major contributor to the team's success during the 1980s when he helped Gretzky win four Stanley Cups from 1983 through 1988.
"But it was basically done so quickly, and that was it. There was never a bidding war. There probably should have been, looking back." With a dollar figure agreed on, Gretzky demanded that defenseman Marty McSorley come with him to L.A. The Oilers, in turn, wanted one of the greatest players in Kings history.
What did LA trade for Gretzky? ›On August 9, 1988, the unthinkable happened. The Oilers traded Gretzky to the LA Kings. The trade was Gretzky, Marty McSorely (D) and Mike Krushelnyski (C/LW), for Jimmy Carson (C), Martin Gelinas (LW), the Kings first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, along with $15 million in cash.
Who is Leafs biggest rival? ›What do Mike Myers, Chris Hadfield, Will Arnett, Justin Beiber, Hayden Christiensen, and Jim Carrey have in common? They're all passionate Leaf fans! That's right, Anakin Skywalker, Ace Ventura and even Austin Powers are Leaf fans!
Who is 69 on the Leafs? ›Throwback Thursday: Wearing number 69, Toronto Maple Leafs sign Brent Gretzky in 1995. Welcome back to another edition of Throwback Thursday! This week in 1995, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Brent Gretzky, brother of NHL legend Wayne.
Is Steve Dangle a Leafs fan? ›Dangle quickly gained support from fellow Toronto Maple Leafs fans and grew his social media presence. Dangle is well known for his web series Leafs Fan Reaction, which is often shortened to LFR in which he reacts to every single Maple Leafs game.
Who is the black guy on the Leafs? ›...
| Wayne Simmonds | |
|---|---|
| NHL Draft | 61st overall, 2007 Los Angeles Kings |
| Playing career | 2008–present |
Giordano was selected by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft after spending 15 seasons with the Flames, including the final eight as captain. He was named the Kraken's first captain Oct. 11.
Who is the highest paid leaf player? ›
Maple Leafs by the numbers: #32 - Steve Thomas.
Who was number 1 on the Leafs? ›Best- Turk Broda, Johnny Bower
Bower wore #1 for 12 seasons with the Leafs between 1956 and 1970 winning 4 Cups, 3 straight between 61 and 64.
| Date | Player | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2023 | W. Simmonds | Sent to minors Toronto-AHL |
| Feb 17, 2023 | N. Acciari | Traded w/ O'Reilly for Gaudette, Abramov, picks |
| Feb 17, 2023 | R. O'Reilly | Traded for '25 4th-rd pick |
| Feb 14, 2023 | P. Holmberg | Called up from minors from Toronto-AHL |
The Leafs currently have 13 forwards using up $55,521,246 of cap space, eight defencemen at $19.7 million and two goalies at $2,566,667. a total of $77,787,913, according to capfriendly.com.
Who was Jason Spezza traded for? ›On July 1, 2014, Spezza was traded to the Dallas Stars (along with Ludwig Karlsson) in exchange for Alex Chiasson, Alex Guptill, Nick Paul and a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
How much would it cost to buy the Toronto Maple Leafs? ›The value of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise of the National Hockey League increased by some 11 percent in 2022 over the previous year. In 2022, the franchise had an estimated value of two billion U.S. dollars.
Is Leafs 5 retired? ›6 for 1975 Hall of Fame forward Irvine "Ace" Bailey, in 1934, and No. 5 for defenseman Bill Barilko, in 1992. Most notably retired before the Maple Leafs home opener against the Boston Bruins was the No.
Are the Leafs still paying Clarkson? ›The Toronto Maple Leafs wasted no time getting their guy, inking right winger David Clarkson to a seven-year, $36.75 million contract on Friday as free agency officially began.
What did the Leafs trade for Giordano? ›Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell from Seattle Kraken for three mid-round draft picks. The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired veteran defenseman @Mark Giordano from the Seattle Kraken and forward @Colin Blackwell in exchange for three draft picks including two second rounders and a third.
Who did the Leafs trade for Malgin? ›
Denis Malgin was to the Colorado Avalanche by the Toronto Maple Leafs for Dryden Hunt on Monday. Malgin had four points (two goals, two assists) in 23 games with the Maple Leafs this season. The 25-year-old forward was traded to Toronto by the Florida Panthers for forward Mason Marchment on Feb.
Who did Ben Chiarot get traded to? ›MONTREAL -- Montreal Canadiens general manager, Kent Hughes, announced on Wednesday that defenseman Ben Chiarot has been traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Tyler Smilanic, a 1st-round pick in 2023 and a 4th-round pick in 2022 previously acquired from the New York Rangers.
Why was Kadri traded by the Leafs? ›Nazem Kadri was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday in a deal that sent Tyson Barrie to the Toronto Maple Leafs. "We wanted to get a second-line centerman and we didn't think financially it was going to work down the line by trying to sign Tyson to an extension," Colorado general manager Joe Sakic said.
Is Jake Muzzin coming back? ›Toronto Maple Leafs' defenseman Jake Muzzin will miss the remainder of the 2022-23 regular season and playoffs recovering from a cervical spine injury, the club announced on Wednesday.
Did Petr Mrazek get traded? ›The Toronto Maple Leafs traded goalie Petr Mrazek and pick No. 25 to the Chicago Blackhawks for the No. 38 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The Leafs didn't retain any of Mrazek's $3.8 million cap hit as the Blackhawks picked up the full contract.
How much did Harold Ballard sell the Leafs for? ›Molson also agreed to sell its stake in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to Stavro. That deal closed in 1994, and shortly after Stavro bought Ballard's shares from the estate for $34 a share or $75 million.
Who did the Leafs trade for van Riemsdyk? ›On June 23, van Riemsdyk was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Luke Schenn.
What goalie did the Leafs acquire? ›Maple Leafs Acquire Goaltender Matt Murray In Trade With Ottawa.
Who will break Gretzky record? ›...
Most career goals in NHL history.
| PLAYER | TEAMS | GOALS |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne Gretzky | Oilers, Kings, Blues, Rangers | 894 |
| Alex Ovechkin | Capitals | 816 |
| Gordie Howe | Red Wings, Whalers | 801 |
Broken records
Gretzky's record of 15 regular season overtime assists has now been passed by three players. They are Nicklas Lidstrom (16), Adam Oates (17), and Mark Messier (18). Joe Sakic (16), Mark Messier (14), and Ray Bourque (13) have passed Gretzky's record (12) for most All-Star game assists.
What is the biggest trade tree in NHL history? ›
It lasted 34 years! Gretzky was dealt from the Oilers to the Kings alongside Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks (1988, 1991, 1993), and $15 million. It remains the most shocking trade in hockey history.
Why did Gretzky pick 99? ›It was with the Greyhounds that Gretzky first wore the number 99 on his jersey. He originally wanted to wear number 9—for his hockey hero Gordie Howe—but it was already being worn by teammate Brian Gualazzi. At coach Muzz MacPherson's suggestion, Gretzky settled on 99.
What NHL team did Gretzky own? ›Gretzky became a minority owner of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes in 2000, and he was named the Coyotes' head coach in 2005.
Why did Peter Pocklington trade Gretzky? ›“With Wayne's contract looming in another year, Edmonton could not compete, I could not compete with a five-or seven-million-dollar a year offer,” says Pocklington. “That was more than our total payroll.” So he decided to move “the asset” while he could get something in return.
Who wore 99 after Gretzky? ›Wilf Paiement was the last player other than Wayne Gretzky to wear the #99.
Why did no one hit Gretzky? ›Gretzky once famously said, "Don't go to where the puck is; go to where it's going to be." Similarly, if you want to hit Gretzky, you have to go where he's going to be. And that was the problem: trying to figure out where he was going to be. No one was able to determine that consistently, so he wasn't hit very often.
Why did Gretzky tuck his shirt? ›However, because Gretzky was a six-year-old wearing a uniform designed for eleven-year-olds, he claimed in an interview that his oversized sweater went down to his ankles. His dad told him that he looked too small wearing his sweater untucked, so he tucked it into his hockey pants.
Who is on the Leaf roster? ›Toronto Maple Leafs
Who was on the 79 Leafs? ›Regular season
The 1979–80 season marked the dismantling of a promising hockey team. The Maple Leafs had stars such as Darryl Sittler, Mike Palmateer, Lanny McDonald, Tiger Williams, Borje Salming and Ian Turnbull.
| Regular Season | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Player Name | GP |
| 10 | George Armstrong | 62 |
| 18 | Jim Pappin | 58 |
| 7 | Tim Horton | 69 |
Did Travis Green play for the Leafs? ›
...
| Travis Green | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| Shot | Right |
| Played for | New York Islanders Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Phoenix Coyotes Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins |
| No. | Player | Acquired |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Zach Aston-Reese | 2022 |
| 78 | T. J. Brodie | 2020 |
| 58 | Michael Bunting | 2021 |
| 48 | Carl Dahlstrom | 2021 |
A day after Thornton signed with the Maple Leafs, the team tweeted out new numbers for the players they have added to the roster so far this offseason, and Thornton will be donning No. 97. Jason Spezza, who just completed his first season with Toronto and signed a one-year contract extension on Oct. 5, wears No.
Who wore 96 for the Leafs? ›#96: Nicolas Aube-Kubel
As such, he'll be wearing the number 96, previously worn by Egor Korshkov. The only other player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to wear the number is Hockey Hall of Famer, Phil Housley in his very brief final stop of his playing career.
Val James (1986-87)
However, the impact he left on not only the Maple Leafs but the game of hockey as a whole stems way beyond that. James was the first-ever black American to suit up for an NHL game and played both left wing and defense.
...
| Chicago Blackhawks | |
| Players with Retired Jerseys | 7 |
| Years of Existence | 92 |
| Stanley Cup Finals Appearances | 13 |