One of many apparent wants for the Toronto Maple Leafs is 2 top-four right-side defensemen. With that in thoughts, we checked out the highest 12 right-handed unrestricted free brokers on the Spotrac web site. Right here we are going to have a look at who we imagine are the highest six in no explicit order.
UFA Defenseman One: Tyler Myers
Tyler Myers (34) is 6-foot-8 and 230 kilos. His final contract was for 5 years at $6 million per season. All through his profession, Myers has participated in 995 video games, averaging 21:53 of ice time per recreation. He scored 93 objectives and added 278 assists, accumulating 371 factors and sustaining a plus/minus ranking of plus-9. Moreover, he has blocked 1,514 pictures and delivered 1,243 hits.
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Within the playoffs, Myers has performed 61 video games with a median ice time of 20:52, scoring seven objectives and 9 assists for 16 factors, with a plus/minus ranking of minus-3. In the course of the 2023-24 season, he performed 77 video games, averaging 18:57 of ice time, with 5 objectives and 24 assists for 29 factors and a plus/minus ranking of plus-16. He additionally blocked 136 pictures and delivered 110 hits.
Following media reviews, we don’t see anybody discussing Myers as a match for the Maple Leafs. We should say that we do marvel why. Myers spent the vast majority of this previous season within the Vancouver Canucks top-four defence. Whereas his TOI was down nearly two minutes from his earlier season, he nonetheless averaged almost a minute greater than Nikita Zadorov, and it appears everyone seems to be speaking about Zadorov.
Thoughts you, Myers is 34, and Zadorov is 29. Zadorov will nonetheless be enjoying lengthy after Myers has retired. On the identical time, Myers will possible come at a a lot cheaper price due to his age than Zadorov. He’s additionally a righthander (Zadorov is a lefty) and is 2 inches taller than the 6-foot-6 Zadorov. Myers had ten extra factors than Zadorov had this previous season and was plus-16 to Zadorov’s plus-12. If Toronto normal supervisor (GM) Brad Treliving likes them massive, nobody is greater than Myers. On prime of that, the way in which Myers performs would match proper into Craig Berube’s teaching model.Â
UFA Defenseman Two: Chris Tanev
Chris Tanev is 34, 6-foot-2, and 195 kilos. His final contract was 4 years, $4.5 million per season. He’s had a formidable profession, enjoying in 792 video games with a median ice time of 19:59. All through his profession, he has scored 33 objectives and 157 assists, amassing 190 factors with a formidable plus/minus ranking of plus-122. Defensively, he has blocked 1,652 pictures and delivered 382 hits.
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Within the playoffs, Tanev has performed in 60 video games, averaging 20:23 of ice time per recreation. Throughout these high-stakes matches, he has scored one aim and 12 assists, totalling 13 factors and sustaining a plus/minus ranking of plus-15, with 174 blocked pictures and 56 hits. Within the 2023-24 season, Tanev performed 75 video games, averaging 19:41 of ice time per recreation. He contributed two objectives and 17 assists for 19 factors, with a exceptional plus/minus ranking of plus-22, alongside 207 blocked pictures and 45 hits.
Tanev has all the time put up strong defensive numbers. Whereas he doesn’t produce a lot offensively, he all the time comes up with optimistic underlying numbers. Utilizing plus/minus for instance, Tanev has solely been within the unfavourable as soon as in his 15-year profession (minus-8 in 2015-16) and is a plus-122 total. This previous season, he was plus-22. Within the playoffs, he has by no means been a minus participant. That has to imply one thing. One in every of Tanev’s extra apparent strengths is his shot-blocking potential. He has 1,652 blocks in his profession. He isn’t bodily relating to hitting. He solely has 337 hits in his profession.Â
Treliving signed Tanev to his final contract, so it is sensible the 2 of them may reunite. Tanev has had accidents previously. He has solely performed 82 video games as soon as in his profession. An excessive amount of time period on a deal wouldn’t be good, until the time period was used to convey the AAV down, with the conclusion that Tanev might need issues towards the top of the contract. Â
UFA Defenseman Three: Brett Pesce
Brett Pesce is 29, 6-foot-3, and 201 kilos. His final contract was for six years at $4.025 million per season. Pesce has had a strong profession, enjoying in 627 video games with a median ice time of 21:05. All through his profession, he has scored 39 objectives and 159 assists, amassing 198 factors with a plus/minus ranking of plus-92. Defensively, he has blocked 958 pictures and delivered 337 hits.
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Pesce has participated in 57 playoff video games, averaging 23:25 of ice time. Throughout these high-stakes matches, he has scored 5 objectives and 16 assists, totalling 21 factors with a plus/minus ranking of plus-2, alongside 121 blocked pictures and 57 hits. Within the 2023-24 season, Pesce performed 70 video games, averaging 20:17 of ice time per recreation. He scored three objectives and added 10 assists for 13 factors, with a plus/minus ranking of plus-10, together with 113 blocked pictures and 25 hits.
Since Pesce’s second season, he’s averaged over 20 minutes per recreation. He’s spent his whole profession enjoying for one group, the Carolina Hurricanes, which has been identified for his or her sturdy defensive play for years. Pesce is without doubt one of the causes the Hurricanes have the defensive fame they do. Â
Up to now, Pesce’s utilization has gone up by over two minutes per recreation within the playoffs. One of many causes the Hurricanes misplaced within the second spherical of the 2024 Postseason might need been as a result of Pesce was harm in Sport 2 of the primary spherical. He isn’t flashy, however he eats minutes and does the job. At 29, he’s in his prime. As a UFA, the bidding may go excessive for him.Â
UFA Defenseman 4: Matt Dumba
Matt Dumba is 30, 6 ft and 180 kilos. His final contract was six years at $6 million per season. Dumba has had an impactful profession, enjoying in 674 video games with a median ice time of 20:31. All through his profession, he has scored 83 objectives and 165 assists, amassing 248 factors with a plus/minus ranking of plus-29. Defensively, he has blocked 807 pictures and delivered 1,019 hits.
Dumba has participated in 54 video games within the playoffs, averaging 20:36 of ice time per recreation. Throughout these high-stakes matches, he has scored 5 objectives and 10 assists, totalling 15 factors with a plus/minus ranking of minus-6, alongside 80 blocked pictures and 129 hits. Within the 2023-24 season, Dumba performed 76 video games, averaging 19:44 of ice time. He contributed 4 objectives and eight assists for 12 factors, with a plus/minus ranking of minus-18, together with 108 blocked pictures and 202 hits.
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The one factor that Dumba is thought for is his physicality. You must maintain your head up when he’s on the ice. Although not very massive, he performs massive. On the draw back, he will get criticized for his erratic play and has been identified to get caught out of place. Regardless of being a plus-29 in his profession, Dumba has been minus-23 over the previous six years. The actual fact he was minus-13 in 58 video games for a foul Arizona Coyotes group this previous season performed a task in that unfavourable plus/minus quantity, although, and must be considered. There is no such thing as a doubt that Dumba is a top-four defenseman. However he isn’t as constantly good defensively as another obtainable UFAs.
UFA Defenseman 5: Brandon Montour
Brandon Montour is 30, standing at 6 ft and weighing 195 kilos. His final contract was for 3 years at $3.5 million per season. Montour has had a distinguished profession, enjoying in 520 video games with a median ice time of 21:04. All through his profession, he has scored 66 objectives and 186 assists, amassing 252 factors with a plus/minus ranking of plus-40. Defensively, he has blocked 568 pictures and delivered 590 hits.
Within the playoffs, Montour has participated in 82 video games, averaging 21:58 of ice time. Throughout these high-stakes matches, he’s scored 11 objectives and 24 assists, totalling 35 factors with a plus/minus ranking of plus-8, alongside 98 blocked pictures and 116 hits. Within the 2023-24 season, Montour performed 66 video games, averaging 23:27 of ice time per recreation. He contributed eight objectives and 25 assists for 33 factors, with a plus/minus ranking of plus-1, 67 blocked pictures, and 104 hits.
Montour is perhaps the perfect all-around defenseman obtainable. He’ll more than likely get an enormous increase in his subsequent deal, be it with the Panthers or another group. We might be stunned if the Panthers didn’t do every part they might to maintain him. In addition they have a tax benefit when competing in opposition to groups like Toronto for his or her companies.
UFA Defenseman Six: Matt Roy
Matt Roy is 29, 6-foot-1 and 200 kilos. His final contract was three years at $3.15 million per season. He’s additionally had a powerful profession, enjoying 369 video games with a median ice time of 19:28. All through his profession, he’s scored 24 objectives and 82 assists, amassing 106 factors with a plus/minus ranking of plus-67. Defensively, he has blocked 667 pictures and delivered 626 hits.
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Roy has participated in 18 video games within the playoffs, averaging 20:45 of ice time. Throughout these matches, he has scored one aim and added 5 assists, totalling six factors with a plus/minus ranking of plus-2, alongside 46 blocked pictures and 59 hits. Within the 2023-24 season, he performed 81 video games, averaging 20:54 of ice time per recreation. He contributed 5 objectives and 20 assists for 25 factors, with a plus/minus ranking of plus-21, together with 197 blocked pictures and 152 hits.
Roy is perhaps the proper under-the-radar alternative for the Maple Leafs. His numbers present he has a well-balanced all-around recreation, particularly provided that he has spent his whole profession enjoying for a middle-of-the-road group just like the Los Angeles Kings.  Â
What Two Defensemen From the Six Ought to the Maple Leafs Pursue?
Our two decisions for the Maple Leafs, in no explicit order, are Tyler Myers and Matt Roy. Whereas he is perhaps 34, Myers is every part Treliving and most Maple Leafs followers like in a participant. He’s massive, sturdy, and bodily. He has additionally been comparatively wholesome, particularly for a participant his dimension who performs bodily. He’s a commanding power on the ice. Myers confirmed no indicators of decline in his recreation this previous season. Roy might need a bonus due to his age. Given this age distinction, he is perhaps a safer wager if the Maple Leafs had been to decide to a $5 million cope with an prolonged time period.Â
Whereas these two gamers may not be the perfect obtainable this offseason, they is perhaps the perfect match for his or her value. The Maple Leafs have about $10 million they’ll afford to spend and want two defensemen. Realistically, they may be capable to signal these two for that cash. Â
[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.]
