Heading into the offseason, we identified the team’s four primary needs (in no particular order):
- Two real top-four defensemen
- A legitimate top-nine center
- A quality left winger (this does not need to be a top-line player by any means)
- A good goalie option in net to tandem with Joseph Woll and likely a (veteran) third stringer behind those two as injury insurance
The Leafs have clearly focused on improving their defense and goaltending first, which is understandable. They have signed Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev on defense, while adding Anthony Stolarz and retaining Matt Murray in net.