With training camp approaching, we take a look at some of the best and worst moves by Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving this off-season.
An NHL GM’s job can be a thankless one, as there is only one winner each and every year. Just because a team doesn’t win the Stanley Cup, it doesn’t mean we should look at the moves the GMs made as automatic failures or blunders. Some moves are smart and calculated, and some not so much. It’s important to be able to differentiate the good from the bad, take the good and leave the bad, learn from it and move on. Here are a few of the good and bad moves made by Brad Treliving this summer.
GOOD: THE CRAIG BERUBE HIRE
If it wasn’t evident before another first-round playoff exit, the Leafs needed a fresh voice behind the bench. Treliving wasted little time making that change, letting Sheldon Keefe go in favour of the veteran Craig Berube.
Berube brings a much tougher coaching and playing style that the Leafs will have to adjust to. While they may struggle more in the regular season with it, his style is more suited to playoff hockey where games are more physical and much tighter. How Berube deploys his roster and how players respond will be something keep an eye on throughout training camp and the season.
GOOD: THE CHRIS TANEV ACQUISITION
For years, Leafs fans have been begging for a top-pairing defenseman to play with Morgan Rielly and they finally got their wish when they acquired and signed Chris Tanev to a 6-year deal with a $4.5M cap hit.
Many aren’t big fans of the cap hit, or the length of the deal, but with the Leafs in win-now mode, the 34-year-old is expected to play a huge role for the team this season. The belief is that he will alleviate some of the defensive pressure on Rielly which could lead to a breakout season for him.
BAD: THE JANI HAKANPAA DISASTER
On the bad side of the off-season, the worst move so far for Treliving was jumping the gun on another injured Dallas Stars defenseman when he reportedly signed Jani Hakanpaa at the beginning of free agency. The reported knee issues that have followed have led to the Leafs now have a hole on the blueline.
Treliving didn’t learn from last off-season’s mistake of signing John Klingberg which ultimately cost him signing Matt Dumba for less. This time around however, the Leafs were aware of the issues but still chose to offer Hakanpaa the contract instead of a healthy defenseman.
BAD: ALLOWING TYLER BERTUZZI TO WALK FOR NOTHING
Although the Leafs and Tyler Bertuzzi negotiated down to the wire, the two sides were unable to reach an extension. Bertuzzi ultimately signed in Chicago on a 4-year deal, leaving a hole in the Leafs’ forward group — within the top-six, no-less — and so far the Leafs have failed to replace not just his 21 goals but also the sandpaper that he brings to the lineup.
The off-season not over yet, so Treliving could still right the ship on two of his worst moves this off-season, but overall, it has been a successful one for the Leafs. The “major” change didn’t happen but there were a lot of smaller changes to the organization that should help the team when push comes to shove.
News
Chris Brown’s Career Disaster: The Scandal That Destroyed His Reputation
Talented but Flawed, Chris Brown Pays a Heavy Price for His Troubling Behavior with a Prolonged Career Freeze and Audience Backlash Chris Brown was once considered capable of shining in the international music scene with his unique R&B style. However,…
Shock! Jason Whitlock Opens Up About Caitlin Clark: ‘LeBron Only Lost the Ball 3.5 Times, What About Clark?
Los Angeles Sparks v Indiana Fever – Source: Getty Veteran analyst Jason Whitlock didn’t mince his words when reacting to rookie Caitlin Clark’s nine turnovers during the Indiana Fever’s thrilling 104-100 overtime win against the Atlanta Dream. Clark, who leads the league…
Despite Breakup Speculations, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Romance Shows No Signs of Fading!
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift take relationship to next level with surprise move Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were recently seen grooving to a love song while watching a tennis match at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 8, 2024. According…
Travis Kelce’s NYC Romantic Surprise: Taylor Swift’s Reaction Caught on Camera!
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were attending a wedding in New York City when they got swarmed by paparazzi. Instead of capturing the next iconic photo of Swift and Kelce’s romance, the cameras ended up recording video of the moment Travis melted Taylor’s heart with an unexpected gesture. Taylor…
NBA Podcaster Shocks The World By Giving Severe Criticism To Steph Curry!
Podcaster takes aim at NBA star Steph Curry for endorsing Kamala Harris in US Presidential race (Image credit: Imagn) Four-time NBA champion Steph Curry recently endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for US president. After endorsing Harris during the Democratic National Convention, Curry again endorsed…
Exclusive: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and the Mahomes’ Double Date—You Won’t Believe the Highlights!
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce enjoyed a romantic date night with pals Patrick and Brittany Mahomes in NYC Sunday — just hours after they soaked up the tennis action at the US Open. The “Cruel Summer” hitmaker, 34, arrived hand-in-hand with…
End of content
No more pages to load