Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 12, 2021

Published: Apr. 13, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Thornton, Spezza, and Simmonds are interchangeable and will sub in and out during the playoffs. Thornton has gone 12 games without a point and appears to be most vulnerable to be bumped off when Foligno moves in. His playing time has come down from his early season gauge, to less than 12 minutes in six of the past seven games. He’s not been able to help the generally ailing power play and at times his skating legs have trouble keeping up.

I see Foligno starting in the top six but eventually goes to the 3rd line. Hyman Matthews Marner is one of the best lines in the NHL. When they are together they dominate. Once Nylander is back I hope they go back to Galy Tavares Nylander. Have been so impressed with Galchenyuk’s play and he has fit better than anyone else the Leafs have tried with JT and Willy.

When healthy, Nash is one of the better defensive forwards in the league (99th percentile, in fact). By the numbers, Nash is a God defensively. By Evolving Hockey’s RAPM, his impact on expected goals against is outstanding year after year. He will likely play in key situations, assuming he recovers in time for the start of the postseason. He will free up players like Matthews to play fewer shifts against top competition and in the defensive zone. Keefe had this to say about him “ He has a history of being a very reliable defensive player, who knows exactly who he is and what to do to help the team win. It's great for us to add somebody with his experience. What stands out to me is the way he played against us [in the bubble]. He had a lot a lot of shifts against our best players where we thought perhaps we're getting the upper hand, and it didn't work out that way.“ When healthy he is going to play.

I would have preferred adding someone like Dmitry Kulikov, Merrill, or Benn instead of Hutton. He’s a decent skater and puck mover but can struggle defensively and with decision-making. I don’t see him taking out Dermott but keeps Marincin away from this team.

IMO Freddy is done. I don’t see him playing another game for the Leafs unless Campbell gets injured.