Evaluation of the Leafs Trading Deadline

Trade Deadline season has come to an end. For better or worse this is the Leafs team, we will live and die through the playoffs. It’s worth remembering that this was very much considered the last stand for this core, and the Dubas wanted one last kick on the can with this group to show that they are getting over the first round.

In this sense, we should not be surprised that changes have been kept to a minimum. It’s also interesting that really only Dermott found himself on the way out as a 2020-21 team member. Nick Ritchie’s departure and Petr Mrazek’s relinquishment were attempts to interrupt the worst aspects of last offseason.

In a sense, we can already say that Ondrej Kase, Michael Bunting, and David Kampf have already made great strides in improving the leafs. The addition of Ilya Lyubushkin also seems to be positive. So here we are with Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell in the trap. Neither addressed the goalkeeper question marks. Giordano is another left-back, and Blackwell could get his shot with Tavares and Nylander, but he is by no means a bona fide top-six forward. This raises the questions:

What did you think of the deadline? How improved are the leafs?

Here’s what the TLN crew has to say:

Stephen Brown

When healthy, the maple leaf blue line is much improved. If Rielly is able to find chemistry and success with Lyubushkin or Liljegren, that frees Brodie to be a problem solver elsewhere in the lineup. Because Giordano and Brodie have a long history of playing together, which makes them an easy couple. Giordano should help limit some goal chances against the rush

.Rielly Lyubushkin
Giordano Brodie
Muzzin Sandin / Holl / Liljegren

Earlier, Muzzin and Holl carried the load defensively and played many minutes against the leading competition. But now the leafs should be able to divide the minutes between their three pairs. Muzzin, who was injured in the playoffs, previously indicated that Dermott or Marincin would play a top 4 role. So the leaves now definitely have more depth than they did in recent years.

Blackwell is underrated and has been on pace for 21 and 16 goals the past two years. He played with Panarin and Strome with NYR. Gourde and Appleton in Seattle. His 7 hits / 60 would be second behind Simmonds on the Leafs this year among the forwards. An energy player Dubas said he was close for a while. Would love to have a safer fire option in the top 6. Would also love to see Robertson there again.When Campbell comes back and plays well then Källgren is as good as the backup. He played well enough, but if Campbell did not find his game, I would be nervous. They are a better team. They have also been playing more physically lately. But do not know if it is enough to compete with Florida or Tampa Bay.

Ryan Hobart

The Leafs had two areas they needed to improve on: goalkeeping, and a second line to play with John Tavares and William Nylander. They did not reach.

I loved Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell, but in the end, they did not accomplish what they set out to do. We know that the Blackhawks’ negotiations for Fleury were a bit unusual and that the goalkeeping market over him was fruitless, so I can not blame the Dubas for not making a move to make a move. There is every reason to believe that an exhausted Jack Campbell will return to form. Until then, who knows.

As for the second line, maybe the stubborn Colin Blackwell is exactly what they need there. Or maybe Kerfoot can stop his magical score touch (aka massive shooting luck) again. Either way, Dubas did not really go out and get a puzzle piece that solves that problem. If the Leafs have any hope of making it past the first round, something from Blackwell, Kerfoot or some other depth must materialize, or Tavares and Nylander must ride the bus with Some Guy, who is floating along doing his best.

Joseph Zita

If you look at the Maple Leafs Trade Deadline this year, I think they did a pretty good job, considering everything. As we all know now, they bought Ilya Lyubushkin well before the deadline and then made some moves in the afternoon before the deadline, sending defender Travis Dermott to the Canucks to send a draft pick, as well as three draft picks for defender Mark Giordano and striker Colin Blackwell from the Kraken.

Just when you look at these additions to this lineup, you can see that Toronto is improving in some areas, but one thing that is still up in the air right now is their goalkeeper and with Jack Campbell still with a rib injury on the side, they will need Erik Kallgren and Petr Mrazek to try their best until Campbell returns. Besides the goalkeeper, I like what Kyle Dubas and company did. Yes, you could say they might have done a little more, but for what they could do, I like it a lot.
You add a tough defensive defender and Ilya Lyubushkin from the Coyotes who checked out a ton of boxes for this Maple Leafs team and we saw it first hand through the first handful of weeks he was with the team. He’s big, he’s physical, he’s going to clear the front of the net with a few cross-checks or just hit you, and he’s just getting deeper on the right side.

To add to the case of Mark Giordano, it is similar, but he is a left-shot defender. Giordano controls some of the boxes for this Toronto team as well, and for a team that still has an injured Jake Muzzin on LTIR as well as an injured Rasmus Sandin now, adding Giordano to that defense is a victory in my eyes. He’s obviously not the same player he once was, especially dating back to when he won the Norris Trophy, but his game was still good enough to rely on him to play top-four minutes. His offensive play has taken a dip, but he’s still as robust as ever on the puck’s defensive side and will provide leadership, veteran presence, and he’s simply a player who is competitive and will do whatever it takes to win.

As for Colin Blackwell, I think this is a low-key shy pickup from Kyle Dubas and I’m very interested in seeing him in the lineup and playing for Toronto. Of course he’s not one of the more attractive names when you look at some of the bands out there, but I like to think of him as a Swiss Army knife and one who’s like the Energizer Bunny. He is someone who can play on both sides of the wing, has an offensive game for him, is reliable defensively, and plays with so much energy when he is outside. He’s under six feet tall, and I know some people might tick, but he’s listed at 190 lbs and plays like someone who’s taller than six feet and 200 lbs. He is not afraid to throw his body around and like I said, he plays with a ton of energy so that would be huge for a team like Toronto.

After these additions to the Maple Leafs, I like to think they have improved and they will be big contributions for this team going forward and into the playoffs. The only thing that worries me right now is the goalkeeper, but here’s hoping a healthy Jack Campbell comes back and finds his game again when he comes back from an injury.

Nick Barden

Looking back at the deadline as a whole, the Maple Leaves have done a pretty good job. I would not say that it was really good, but I would also not say that it is really bad. Each of the movements made sense in my own mind.

Kyle Dubas addressed everything he needed to do except goaltending, which essentially cost him a first-round pick. There was no way for the Maple Leafs to get a goalkeeper with these costs, so they decided to run with their Netminders internally. It’s not the worst thing in the world, especially when the two of Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek peak at the right time.

Getting Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell were big additions for Toronto. Addressing the defense, while also adding a striker without giving up the roster players or prospects was really well done. One thing I do believe, however, is that many people have forgotten about Ilya Lyubushkin Trade. It was a long time ago, which is understandable, but I think that was the best Trade of the ridge.

All in all, I think it was a good one Trade Deadline for the maple leafs with the resources they had at their disposal.

Dylan Murphy

Given the restrictions that Kyle Dubas has set for himself (not trading with top prospects or their first round pick in a pure location) I think he did well and the team is really improved in an area of ​​defense. Blackwell could potentially be the piece that restores the Tavares-Nylander line, but I reserve judgment on that front until we see the lines in practice on Tuesday. Källgren and Campbell as the pairing on the track could be good, great or abysmal, only time will tell. And it’s a shame they could not unload the boat anchor what Mrazek’s contract is, but that’s life.

Mark Norman

Let us know what you think. Was this a reasonable deadline season? Should the leafs have done more? Less? Tell us in the comments.