Where do the Toronto Maple Leafs go this offseason?
Another letdown postseason performance has likely ended the Mitch Marner era, and that elusive Stanley Cup continues to evade this desperate fanbase.
But the Maple Leafs also took the two-time defending champions, the Florida Panthers, to seven games, and had it not been for a Game 3 collapse, this postseason could have looked very, very different.
Now that Marner is all but officially gone, Toronto can turn its attention toward bolstering its depth and plugging holes. One of those holes is on the right side of the defense.
Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo each bring enough sandpaper to compete with a team like the Panthers, and adding another smart, tough, right-handed shot should be atop the front office’s priority list.
According to NHL Analyst Nick Kypreos, the Maple Leafs could re-engage with the Calgary Flames about RHD Rasmus Andersson, whom they showed interest in at the trade deadline.
The post-Matthew Tkachuk stretch in Calgary has been a rough one, as the Flames have failed to reach the playoffs in all three of those seasons. This is a team on a downward trajectory (even with budding star goaltender Dustin Wolf), and it could look to move some of its more desirable assets, like Andersson.
The 28-year-old has one year left at $4.55 million, and while he is a very good offensive defenseman, that expiring contract should lessen Calgary’s return expectations.
Toronto has over $25 million in cap space for John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and possibly Andersson.
The Maple Leafs could ship a prospects and picks package to the Flames and try to run it back with (most) of their core.
