This isn't meant as a typical knee-jerk LEaf fan reaction to an injury post. However, with today's news of Matthews being out for [AT LEAST] 3 weeks, I believe this will most likely highlight the lack of top-6 quality centre depth the Leafs have available, which was a concern of mine prior to this injury. At the moment the options to fill that void are Holmberg, Kerfoot, Kampf, or shift Nylander to C.
This is a bit of a blessing in disguise as it will showcase why adding quality centre depth ahead of the playoffs is key for the Maple Leafs. Without Matthews (or Tavares) they become a much easier team to game plan against. Tavares and Marner will now see top lines/checking lines and top D pairs consistently that are committed to shutting them down for the next 3 weeks. This will leave Nylander to attempt to carry the second line on his own from the wing, which for as good a season as he is having this year is a lot to ask, even if it is just for about a month, less the all star weekend and bye-week.
My recommendation is that the Leafs, instead of riding it out and likely forfeiting home ice in the first round to Tampa, instead pull off a move that otherwise would have happened at the TDL now.
There are a few candidates that can play Centre (and shift to the wing when Matthews returns to bolster the top-6), however their costs will vary greatly:
VAN - Bo Horvat: The sexy choice. A pending UFA who is shooting the lights out on a horrible team this year. With retention, his contract can be absorbed without issue. Almost no chance to resign him after however. The price would be very high from VAN as they need assets for their rebuild/retool.
DET - Larkin: A small step down from Horvat in terms of production this season, but an excellent centre with speed. Similar contract and chance to resign as Horvat, but Yzerman will ask for the moon for him.
CHI - Domi: The likely bargain of this group both in cap hit and asset cost to acquire. Domi has shifted from LW ot C several times over his career and has been doing very well as a top-line centre with a struggling Chicago team this season. He could fit under the Leafs cap with or without retention. He isn't a line-driver like Horvat or Larkin, but if paired with a skilled player like Nylander or Marner he could likely produce at a top-6 level as he has with Kane this season.
STL - O'Reilly: The high risk/potential high reward option of this group. He carries the highest cap hit, has had injury issues, and has seen a big drop-off in production this season. However, he is a recent con smythe trophy winner, an excellent two-way centre, and very good on face-offs. He has recently expressed that his desire is to stay in STL, so a deadline move may impact his season as well.
MTL - Monahan: Likely the cheapest option of all, he had a good start to this season after a couple of stinkers in Calgary. However, his injury issues make him a risky pickup, especially if his primary role is to cover potential injury.
Did I miss anyone? Let me know. (I have focused on rentals here, but perhaps there is someone with term that works?)
In my opinion, I think a play for Domi now to see how he works in the top-6 with Matthews out would be a good plan. If he works out well, great. If not, then perhaps another move is required at the deadline. With retention he is only 1.5M on the cap, which would allow another move. People are going to think I am a Max Domi fan given my last post also had him coming to Toronto, but I'm not. I just think he is the best option available that works in terms of ability, cost, and term.
He is surprisingly having a nice year in the face-off circle (334W-269L 55%)
Not my first or second choice but I wouldn’t hate to have him as a 3C
He's by far the worst defensive player in this list. He would be by far the worst defensive player on the Leafs. For any marginal increase in offence he provides, it's nullified by his crap defensive play. He's the worst possible target and everyone would be looking back on his time with anger. Remember when Gally made that awful awful play in OT that game Montreal a 2 on 0 they scored on to take game 6? The game where TO outshot them 16-0 up to that point, one absolutely terrible play and we lose. That's what Domi will do.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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