the Leafs are clear losers

As I summarized and explained earlier this morning, we were really treated to a whole first day of opening of the free agent market yesterday.

There’s been a lot of signings and action, and it’s not likely to slow down today, considering the many names still available on the market.

So, with a first day of free agents now behind us, we can already analyze the work done by each of the National Hockey League teams.

This allows us to observe which teams are winning, which teams have stalled, and which teams are losing this day.

Freelancers: Best moves from Day 1 👀🏒 https://t.co/nt5RX13EPm

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 2, 2023

Among the losing teams, there are obviously the rivals of the Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Indeed, the observation is clear in Toronto, both for the fans (who are also very frustrated and disappointed with the turn of events) and for the various analysts, the team is not as good as it was before the opening of the market.

It was a very difficult day for the Leafs, and the team’s new general manager, Brad Treliving, is already being heavily criticized.

For what?

Well, we must first consider the fact that the Leafs yesterday lost the services of several key players who have done them great service in recent years (even if they have not always been perfect).

We therefore note the departures under other skies of Ryan O’Reilly (Predators of Nashville), Alex Kerfoot (Arizona Coyotes), by Michael Bunting (Carolina Hurricanes), by Luke Schenn (Nashville Predators), by Justin Holl (Carolina Hurricanes) and Noel Acciari (Pittsburgh Penguins).

The Leafs therefore lost four attackers and two defenders in a single day.

They’re not the biggest names, but they’re all players who have had great use (without being perfect) for the Leafs in terms of depth.

But in the end, departures are filled and players are replaced, right?

Well, that’s where the big problem comes in is that Brad Treliving only signed one forward and one defenseman on Day 1 of free agents.

Their names?

Ryan Reaves (for THREE YEARS), who doesn’t even count as a replacement for one of the departed players in my opinion, and John Klingberg, a struggling defender defensively.

The Leafs therefore lost a combination of players who scored 79 total goals in 2022-23 to replace them with a combination of two players who scored 15 total goals in 2022-23.

Ouch, Ouch, And re-ouch.

We therefore understand very well the frustration of Toronto fans.

We may think that Brad Treliving has not finished his job, but at the same time, with around $6M available under the salary cap, things will not be easy.

For what?

Because the team’s number one goalkeeper, Ilya Samsonov is still unsigned, and also because contract extensions must be signed with Auston Matthews and William Nylander in view of the 2024-2025 season.

The Leafs therefore have a far worse team than last season at the moment, and it will be difficult for them to turn things around by the start of the season.

I therefore present to you, at present, the attack of the Maple Leafs.

Yes, I know, besides the Big-4it is very very ordinary.

In defense, it’s a little better, but it’s far from perfect.

In short, things are not going very well on the Toronto side at the moment, and it could very well be spoiled even more if Treliving does not manage to sign contract extensions with Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

To be continued.

A lot of

– Good signing for the Detroit Red Wings.

– Summary of the work of Steve Yzerman.

– To be read in view of the Wimbledon tournament.

Overview of what awaits us at Wimbledon from Monday 🎾 https://t.co/BmGV7v0yT6

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 2, 2023

– To read.