It was announced last week that Max Domi would be out indefinitely due to complications with an offseason surgery he had:
While I wouldn’t have been disappointed if they traded Domi the player, I wish Domi the person a quick recovery. The story goes that for a few days after he had surgery on his back he couldn’t walk. That’s a scary situation, to say the very least.
I’m under the impression that he is able to walk at this time. However, it does appear that this will prevent Domi from training properly this summer and he is slated to be re-evaluated around training camp. With any luck he’s there and he’s healthy, although I still don’t fully see where he fits within a competitive roster, but that’s a discussion for a time in which we know he’s healthy. For now we’ll put that on the back burner and simply hope that his career isn’t over.
I wrote about David Carle in the mandatory Coach’s write-up a few weeks ago. He does sound like a great fit for the Leafs but that isn’t about to happen right now.
As things went with the hiring of John Chayka as GM, I expect the Leafs to go a little off board with their new bench boss. Jussi Ahokas just coached the Kitchener Rangers to a Memorial Cup championship and he definitely sounds like a forward thinking candidate. If his name were to enter the discussion I wouldn’t be surprised at all. A very compressed description of his coaching is that he wants his teams to play “position less” hockey. Basically that type of system allows the defense to pinch at will, due to the forwards always being in a position to cover for them and play as blueliners whenever required. It’s a system that calls for a lot of rotating, cycling and two-way play. While I could see a lot of the current roster buying in, I also feel that there are a few that would dismiss this type of system in the same fashion that they dismissed Craig Berube’s. I won’t name name’s, but I think everybody knows who I’m referring to.
There are differing reports about Jay Woodcroft and the Leafs. Some are saying he simply isn’t on the Leafs’ list of possible head coaching candidates, while others claim that he is. My opinion remains that he is a fantastic assistant coach, but isn’t head coach material just yet.
They need to get this right.
That’s why the reports of them interviewing both of Derek Lalonde and Mike Van Ryn for the head coaching position are perplexing to me. Both have had success as assistant coaches at the NHL level, but neither have much in the way of success as a head coach at this level. Some may argue that Lalonde could deserve another shot at being a head coach, but my response to that would be that if it is true, that doesn’t mean his shot needs to come in Toronto and at this pivotal juncture.
The front office is continuing to take shape
Judd Brackett certainly sounds like a solid addition to the organization. The Leafs have long been criticized for their disappointing record at the draft table and Brackett is expected to help change that narrative. Meanwhile, Freddie Hamilton appears to be entering into a position that could involve his overseeing the hockey operations and players’ contract side of things.
An immediate connection was made between Freddie and his brother, Dougie Hamilton. It’s well known that the NJ Devils would like to shed Hamilton’s contract and the Leafs could have interest. The only question is what the cost to acquire the 6’6″ 230lb rear guard would be. Hamilton had a down year last season, but it’s believed that the Devils are still asking for a healthy return. I don’t think this is a player they should overpay for at this time, considering his $9M caphit for two more years and the fact that he’ll be 33 years old by the time the puck drops on the 2026-27 NHL season.
Hamilton had 39pts in 77 games this past season, while Morgan Rielly had 36pts in 78 games. When people speak about Rielly it’s as a pure salary dump, as compared to Hamilton, who could be a positive addition. Rielly is one year younger than Hamilton and is signed for $7.5M per season for 4 more years. Yes, that contract isn’t an attractive one, but neither is the one attached to Hamilton. The narrative surrounding both is quite different, but maybe it shouldn’t be, that’s all I’m trying to say.
The Gavin McKenna vs Ivar Stenberg debate is still going, but it has quieted, as I think Leafs Nation has gotten the message. It’s more narrative than substance. This is the Gavin McKenna draft and the more I hear and read about him the more there is to like. He’s a unique talent and he has given the fan base a much needed jolt to their passion for the team.
One theory that I’ve enjoyed pondering about is the effect that adding McKenna could have on the current star players here. Up until now the core group has been very comfortable. They demanded and received big money, they’ve received criticism for their playoff failures but never from management, they’ve been pampered and catered to by the organization, but McKenna could put all of that at risk. What McKenna could represent is the face of a new generation of players. If things continue in the playoffs the way they have been (assuming they get back in, anyway), then it’s much more likely that management could approach players about waiving their trade protection. Auston Matthews is already contemplating life after Toronto, while William Nylander could be the next player in line if the team doesn’t find ways to win. It’s true that Nylander loves life in Toronto, but it’s also true that he hasn’t done enough in the toughest moments to pull the team through to where they need to be, just like the rest of the core. Trading those two stars alone, when you consider the returns they could garner, could be the start and end to a re-tool/re-build. This isn’t necessarily a situation where the team needs to tank for years to build their new core. They could receive that from other teams if they play their cards right.
I’ll jump back to Morgan Rielly. Talk of him being a fit for San Jose has been going on for months. One rumoured return would involve Tyler Toffoli. The veteran right winger from Scarborough would be a fantastic fit for Toronto in my opinion. They need more right shots among the forward group and Toffolli would help there. There is a full NTC involved on Toffoli’s side, which makes this pure speculation more than anything, but it’s interesting nonetheless.