‘I Don't Think It's a Secret, Our Defense Is An Area That We'd Like To See If We Can Improve’: Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Identifies Blueline as the Priority Heading Into NHL Free Agency
It’s no secret.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are making defense a priority ahead of the opening of NHL free agency on July 1. Ever since Brad Treliving got the job in the summer of 2023 to take over as general manager in Toronto, he has been looking to add to the defensive core. It looks as if now, with a full year under his belt, he will attempt to effectively do so.
Ahead of the NHL Draft in Vegas on Wednesday, Treliving met with reporters to discuss the club’s bucket list ahead of July 1 – emphasizing the team’s desire to add to the blueline.
“Well, I think there's lots of priorities. I think for us, I don't think it's a secret. Our defense is an area that we'd like to see if we can improve,” Treliving said. “You know, easier said than done. But that's certainly an area that we've been focused on.”
With notable blueliners Joel Edmundson, Ilya Lyubushkin, T.J. Brodie, Mark Giordano, and John Klingberg among the notable unrestricted free agents on the club’s backend come July 1, the team has some holes to fill – at least that is what the math implies.
“I mean, well, the math would just say so, right? Now, when you say add, it could be guys that we have, right? That are up. But when you look at it, what do we got? Four guys under contract, one guy that's restricted,” said Treliving.
And he’s right. Of their rostered players, the Leafs have four defensemen under contract for the 2024-25 season, five if you include Cade Webber who signed his entry-level deal in April. The list includes Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, Simon Benoit, Conor Timmins, and the “one guy that’s restricted” is right-handed defenseman Timothy Liljegren. With five notable unrestricted free agents, Treliving did note the team hasn’t ruled out bringing back defensemen on that list – two of which are right-handed.
“We have to add bodies. Now, whether that's guys whose contracts are expiring and bringing them back. We're trying, you know,” Treliving emphasized. “Like the right side of our defense. We'd like to help it right now.”
With an estimated $19.7 million in cap room according to Puckpedia.com, the club will have to be cautious of how they spread their money around. However, how will the team look to address the backend?
Defensively, the club is likely to take the route of free agency with notables Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, Brandon Montour, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, and Matt Roy set to hit the open market. A trade, as Treliving points out, will leave another hole to fill, but notes the club is in search of “adding more than one” defenseman, meaning they will be aggressive one way or another.
“Now, you could probably trade for one (defenseman), but are you creating another hole somewhere else? Right? So long-winded answer, but yeah I would say we're looking to add more than one.”
The moves Treliving and the Leafs organization make in the coming days will shape out the remainder of the offseason and what additions will still need to be made. With a mix of internal contract decisions and the potential to dive into the free agent market, Treliving has a critical task ahead. Balancing cap space with the need to strengthen the blueline, the Leafs seem poised to make substantial moves to enhance their defensive core either way.
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