Welcome to the first in what will be a long run of Toronto Maple Leafs coverage for Full Press NHL. I’ll be the link between the team and readers, and I’ll be posting weekly coverage in this space for the foreseeable future. First, full disclosure: after my first run with The Hockey News, I was hired by the Leafs to write for their website; that lasted a handful of years until I could no longer attend games and practices for personal reasons. My father had a health scare, and I moved northwest of Toronto, where I currently reside. But I can still provide you with educated, insightful work on the team, and I hope to entertain and engage readers in a productive fashion.
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Ep 77: Patrick Kane Signs, Goalie Issues, Corey Perry, and More
by Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 3:05 am
Jim and Chris are back for another Pucks After Dark on Full Press Hockey […]
Now, with that out of the way, let’s examine the latest Leafs’ news, which broke early in the day Tuesday: after re-signing veteran forward Jason Spezza a couple of weeks prior, Leafs GM Kyle Dubas retained another experienced hand – rugged winger Wayne Simmonds – by signing him to a two-year, $1.8 million deal. The two moves together are a tacit endorsement of the team that finished first in the COVID-makeshift North Division, only to fall apart in the first round of the playoffs by blowing a 3-1 series lead to the eventual series-winning Montreal Canadiens. But fans should not see keeping Spezza and Simmonds around as a sign the Leafs will be dependent on either player to carry the youngsters that make up the core of the team. Rather, they should understand that Toronto, like every high-functioning group, needs the development of other young players, and management members, to give the core a notable boost.
At the moment, we’re talking about forwards Nick Robertson and Adam Brooks, and defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liligren. These are the players who’ve been honing their craft in the American League with the Toronto Marlies. They’re under contractual control of the team during this current competitive window for star forwards Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander; even if Dubas figures out a way to bring back unrestricted free agents like forwards Nick Foligno, Zach Hyman and Joe Thornton, and D-man Zach Bogosian – all of whom could still make a dent in the opposition, if they accept less money to remain Maple Leafs – Dubas will still need to turn to prospects like Robertson, Sandin and Brooks to fill out the roster and give head coach Sheldon Keefe enough evidence to make difficult lineup decisions each and every game.
That in-house competition for jobs is the hallmark of great NHL teams. A push from below can only help top-shelf talent like Matthews and Marne raise their respective games to new heights. It also can plug any holes left in the team after the expansion team in Seattle plucks one name off Toronto’s roster. And this is where the Leafs can take advantage of the absence of a salary cap in the minor leagues: assistant GM Laurence Gillman has been in charge of the Marlies, but Leafs president Brendan Shanahan has promoted him to senior vice-president of the Marlies and added another solid hockey man in new Marlies GM Ryan Hardy. The Marlies’ production matters more than ever, and Hardy has a wealth of experience developing talent in the United States Hockey League. He and Gillman will work together to generate young, skilled, and determined players for Dubas to elevate to the NHL level when the time comes.
And the way the NHL works today, there almost assuredly will be a time for youngsters to step up. With an increasingly compressed schedule, injuries, “load management” (see the handling of NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard as a harbinger of what is to come on that front) and the stresses of the cap, it is more crucial than ever that the fruits of a team’s minor league be plentiful and regular. Going out and paying for talent in free agency will nearly always result in an overpayment, which is why it is so important for cheap employees to rise through a system and wind up as members of the NHL roster.
Latest Leafs News
- Knies, Robertson One Of Many Leafs Youngsters Setting Up For Long-Term Success
- Leafs Digest – 12/1 – MASSIVE Trade Incoming?
- NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders
- Three Veteran Defensemen Wobbly Leafs Could Trade For
- NHL November Outlook – Atlantic Division
Dubas has leaned on emotional, hometown connections to Toronto to bring in Spezza, Simmonds, and Thornton to pad his team’s overall skill level, but it’s entirely likely he won’t be able to find those talents forever. This is why the Marlies’ successes mean so much to the successes of the Leafs: if the big-league club can always depend on their feeder systems to replenish the roster, that is a huge load off Dubas’ mind, and puts him in a positive leverage position when diving into the trade market.
So don’t fret just yet, Leafs’ fans. The team that imploded against the Canadiens will be very similar to the one that takes the ice for the 2021-22 season, but there will be a need and a focus on fringe players other than Spezza and Simmonds to improve on the final result. Those two will have important voices in the dressing room, but if either one is bitten by the injury bug – and the bug took a bite out of Simmonds last season, so there’s reason to expect either he or Spezza will be sidelined for a stretch this coming year – there will be players ready to take their spot and carve out a permanent place at the NHL level.
That’s what to keep an eye out for in the immediate future. The regular season matters, but as we’re seeing now, it doesn’t matter as much as being prepared and committed to a long and difficult playoff run. And those young players – by which, I mean Marner/Matthews/Nylander, as well as other youngsters lower down on the roster – need to be confident and aggressive when that time of the year rolls around. The good news is that Dubas, Shanahan and the rest of Leafs management knows this, and they’re doing everything in their power to assist Gillman, Hardy and the rest of the Marlies in that pursuit.
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Ep 77: Patrick Kane Signs, Goalie Issues, Corey Perry, and More
by Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 3:05 am
Jim and Chris are back for another Pucks After Dark on Full Press Hockey […]
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Ep 76: Oilers, Flames, Winter Classic Jersey, Avs, and More
by Full Press Coverage on November 23, 2023 at 6:42 am
Jim and Chris are back for another edition of Full Press Hockey Weekly to […]
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Ep 75: Hockey After Dark
by Full Press Coverage on November 15, 2023 at 3:12 am
Jim and Chris are back for the first edition of Full Press Hockey After […]
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Around the NHL: Detroit Signs Kane to Vancouver Acquires Zadorov and Where the Goalies At?
by Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Vox Media NHL Analyst Bruce […]
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Off to Motown: Patrick Kane Signs with Detroit Red Wings
by Full Press Coverage on November 28, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey […]
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What's on Russ's Mind: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
by Full Press Coverage on November 23, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Russ Cohen of Full Press Hockey, […]
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Ep 87: Captain Brad Marchand, New Season Expectations, Bruins Hockey Is Back
by Full Press Coverage on October 11, 2023 at 11:10 pm
Ian and Chris return for the start of the Bruins season as they talk Brad […]
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Ep 86: David Krejci Announces Retirement
by Full Press Coverage on August 14, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Ian and Chris react to David Krejci's retirement. Learn more about your ad […]
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S5Ep14 - Patrick Kane Signs, Nikita Zadorov Traded, Dean Evason Out, Plus NHL Rumors
by Jim Biringer on December 5, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back for the fifth season of the Final Word on Hockey […]
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S5Ep13 - Patrick Kane Signs with Detroit Red Wings
by Jim Biringer on November 28, 2023 at 5:21 pm
Jim Biringer is back for the fifth season of the Final Word on Hockey in a […]
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Jets at Avalanche - Wild at Canucks - Devils at Kraken
by Broken Controller Media on December 7, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Hunter Logan Previews Jets at Avalanche, Wild at Canucks, Devils at Kraken […]
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Ducks at Blackhawks - Flyers at Coyotes - Hurricanes at Flames
by Broken Controller Media on December 7, 2023 at 5:15 pm
Hunter Logan Previews Ducks at Blackhawks, Flyers at Coyotes, Hurricanes […]
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Blue Jackets at Islanders - Stars at Capitals - Lightning at Predators
by Broken Controller Media on December 7, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Hunter Logan Previews Blue Jackets at Islanders, Stars at Capitals, […]
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Episode #147: Sloppy October Is Over?
by Full Press Coverage on November 2, 2023 at 8:37 pm
On this edition of The Calder Farmstead, Sean and Sarah finish out the […]
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Episode #146: Spooky Luck
by Full Press Coverage on October 27, 2023 at 4:09 pm
On this episode of The Calder Farmstead, Mr. Anderson (Sean) and Tina […]
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ROP Recap Preds 5 Bolts 1 Game 26 2023-24 Season
by Charlie Saunier on December 8, 2023 at 4:49 am
ROP Recap Preds 5 Bolts 1 Game 26 2023-24 Season Learn more about your ad […]
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Full Press Hurricanes - 12-7 - The Oilers Stun Carolina 6-1 to Finish the Season Series
by Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Zach Hyman pots a hat trick & Edmonton gets out to a 4-0 start en […]
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Full Press Panthers - 12-7 - Florida Panthers bounce back at home with win over the Dallas Stars
by Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 2:30 pm
It was a nail-biter in Amerant Bank Arena, but the Panthers and their fans […]
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Full Press Islanders - 12-6 - This loss was a disgrace
by Full Press Coverage on December 6, 2023 at 5:05 pm
Blowing another 3rd period lead at home to the worst team in the NHL is a […]
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Full Press Wild - 12-6 - Recapping the Wild win over the Flames.
by Full Press Coverage on December 6, 2023 at 3:05 pm
Win, Calgary, milestones, four in a row. Learn more about your ad choices. […]
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Full Press Blackhawks - 12-6 - The Blackhawks are officially the worst team in the NHL
by Full Press Coverage on December 6, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Recapping the Chicago Blackhawks’ loss against the Nashville Predators, […]
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12/5 - MNF Reaction, Endless QB Debates
by Full Press Coverage on December 5, 2023 at 11:28 am
Ian and John discuss the Bengals OT victory over the Jags and more […]
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12/4 - Chiefs/Packers, Patriots, and Week 13 Reactions
by Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Ian and John discuss the Packers win over the Chiefs, the Patriots […]
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12/1 - NFL MVP, Week 13 Picks
by Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 2:18 am
Ian and John discuss the ever-changing MVP race and give their predictions […]
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11/28 - MNF Reaction, State Of The NFL
by Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 3:49 am
Ian and John react to Monday Night Football and discuss more of the state […]
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Ep 181: HOF Semifinalist Tiki Barber Joins The Show
by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:13 am
Hall of Fame semifinalist and former Giants running back, Tiki Barber, […]
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Ep 163: Week 13 Studs and Duds
by Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 8:30 pm
Ian and Braden give their Studs and Duds from Week 13 in the NFL. Learn […]
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Ep 317: Week 14 Fantasy Football Preview
by Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 4:04 am
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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EP. 263 - NBA Contenders and Pretenders
by Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 12:47 am
Jet and Sap take a look at the NBA standings a quarter of the way through […]
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12/5 - MNF Reaction, Endless QB Debates
by Full Press Coverage on December 5, 2023 at 11:28 am
Ian and John discuss the Bengals OT victory over the Jags and more […]
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Ep 199: Week 13 Instant Reactions
by Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 11:32 pm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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12/4 - Chiefs/Packers, Patriots, and Week 13 Reactions
by Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Ian and John discuss the Packers win over the Chiefs, the Patriots […]
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Ep 162: Joe Flacco, Dak Prescott and The MVP, Week 13 Discussion
by Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 3:58 pm
Ian and Braden discuss Joe Flacco's return, Dak's MVP candidacy, and more […]