Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Power Rankings #28: Toronto Maple Leafs
Much like the Devils and the Coyotes, the Toronto Maple Leafs are undergoing a rebuilding stage. However, unlike the Coyotes and Devils, Toronto has been very deliberate in their method of doing so. In a span of roughly 18 months, they’ve gone from having a low-tier farm system to having arguably the best farm system in the NHL. They’ve done that through trades.
The Leafs are going to be counting on their young players to develop this season. They’ll be counting on Jake Gardiner to prove that he can be a consistent top four defenseman. He certainly has the talent to do so and his advanced stats are quite appealing. However, he’s been a bit lacking in consistency. If he can get more consistent, Gardiner could be a top pairing defenseman. Morgan Reilly will look to continue to develop. Reilly has the potential to be a puck mover a la Mike Green. He can do some pretty special things with the puck.
They’ll also be trying to figure out what to do with Nazem Kadri. They’ll likely give Kadri a good long look at the first line center position and see if he can fill that role for them. I believe he can. They’ll also look to see if they can move guys like Tyler Bozak, Dion Phaneuf, and Jeffrey Lupul. Not to mention the players they signed to one-year deals.
Next: #27