TORONTO (June 17) — This, from a hockey voice in Miami: “Most people think [Leafs general manager] Brad Treliving will pursue either Sam Bennett or Brad Marchand in free agency. From what I’m hearing, don’t be surprised if the Leafs clear the deck to sign both players. Especially if the Panthers win the Stanley Cup again.”
One voice. But, not necessarily one opinion. “Down here, we wonder what could happen to a back–to–back champion,” said the person; well known throughout National Hockey League media circles but choosing to remain anonymous (for now). “Though many are caught up in the excitement of Game 6, others are worried about the team being gutted in free agency. And, Toronto is the one place we keep hearing about.” I’m not certain the losses of Bennett and Marchand would “gut” the Panthers given that all of Sergei Bobrovsky, Sasha Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe and Seth Jones are still under contract for next season. Many clubs (including the Leafs) would be thrilled with such a nucleus. But, neither is another team in the NHL in danger of losing three–such cornerstones: Bennett, Marchand and veteran defenseman Aaron Ekblad, all of whom can test the open market in two weeks. “For my money, Bennett is the key down here, especially the way he’s producing in the playoffs (leading all skaters with 15 goals),” said my source. “[GM] Bill Zito is intent on keeping Bennett. He would like Marchand to stick around as well, but will not break the bank for him. Ekblad, I think, will be moving on without a lot of resistence from the Panthers. But, watch out for Toronto. The Leafs have ‘eyes’ for this team.”
And, why not? Nothing highlights a hockey résumé quite like a Stanley Cup triumph. If the Panthers defeat the Oilers at home tonight in Game 6, or at Edmonton in Game 7 on Friday, they will become the first team (in a non–COVID playoff) since the 2016–2017 Pittsburgh Penguins to win consecutive titles. Bennett and Marchand would find their name on the Cup for a second time — the former winning last spring in Sunrise; the latter, with Boston in his rookie season, 2010–11 (defeating Vancouver) while also appearing in the 2019 Cup final against St. Louis.
“From what I’m hearing most days, it’s an ‘either–or’ situation with the Panthers up where you live,” continued the Miami voice. “But, I’m telling you, the Leafs will go hard after both players. Just wait and see.”
BRAD MARCHAND (63) SHAKES HANDS WITH SAM BENNETT AFTER THE BOSTON BRUINS WERE SHOCKED AT HOME BY THE FLORIDA PANTHERS IN GAME 7 OF THE 2023 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.
Those chuckling will wonder how Treliving can accommodate Bennett and Marchand, given the club’s cap situation. Which isn’t nearly as bleak as most suspect. At the moment, with Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Max Pacioretty off the books, the Leafs (according to Puckpedia) have $25,709,001 to spend. This will increase if Treliving, as he should, finds a landing spot for defenseman Morgan Rielly, who consumes an unhealthy $7.5 million cap burden in each of the next four seasons. Rielly has a full no–move clause… with one caveat: the Maple Leafs can buy him out; an escape mechanism that kicked in last summer. A more–likely scenario would be for Treliving to sell Rielly on a change of scenery, which may not be impossible after this past season, when the blueliner declined noticeably. Let’s suggest, for argument’s sake, the Leafs had to retain $3 million in salary. It would provide Treliving a full $30,209,001 in cap space; more than enough to pursue Bennett and Marchand, even if Bennett doubles his salary to $9 million and Treliving poaches Marchand for $8 million (with lesser term). Spending $17 mil on the two Florida playoff stars would still leave Treliving close to $14 million in cap space.
So, why wouldn’t he go after the Panthers’ duo?
Such aggressive comportment by the Toronto GM would serve a binary purpose: Removing, from the club, three players (Marner, Tavares, Rielly) with whom the Leafs have repeatedly fallen flat in clutch playoff situations while adding a pair of unqualified winners that possess “snot”, as Treliving wished for a year ago. Marchand, in particular, would change the complexion of the franchise with his exuberance, charisma and gifted sense of humor. He would instantly transplant current captain, Auston Matthews, as the pulse of the Leafs. No player available via trade or free agency could more–aptly fill Treliving’s slot as a “DNA” changer. Even at 37 years of age. As previously mentioned here, the Leafs would have to make a lifetime commitment to the future Hall–of–Fame forward — two or three more years of playing; unlimited time afterward as a club executive. Bennett will be more of a challenge to obtain, given the apparent mutual interest of the player and his current team to stay put. So, the Leafs have to go one better, particularly with Florida the only club eligible to offer an eight–year contract to the native of Holland Landing, Ont. (other teams can tender a maximun seven years). As Toronto accomplished in the summer of 2018 with Tavares, who conceded that guaranteed eighth year to defect from the Islanders to his home city.
Marchand is from Halifax, so the lure of returning to his roots doesn’t exist. But, it’s arguable that no rival player in the NHL is as familiar with the Leafs, given his years of tormenting the Blue and White, particularly after mid–April. He’d become, in no time, the most–popular athlete in our city. Others may wonder who will play defense for the Leafs if Treliving can swap Rielly. Does it matter? The club was far superior with Rielly on the bench this past season than on the ice. Retaining him accomplishes nothing in an effort to flip DNA. Marner is gone; has been since well before the NHL trade deadline. There is still the flirtation with Tavares, who scored an impressive 38 goals for the Leafs before disappearing with the others in Games 5 and 7 of the Florida series (each 6–1 losses). It isn’t necessary to bring back the former captain. Bennett and Marchand would more than compensate for his absence.
If jittery about a Marchand for Marner switch, consider that Brad has 10 goals for the Panthers this spring; Mitch has 10 playoff goals for Toronto in the past seven years. No, it should never be all about the regular season.
How big will the Leafs go beginning July 1? Really big, according to my Florida friend.
A FORTUITOUS FIND…
Every so often, I carefully wade into the depths of my condominium locker and come upon items that I never knew existed. Such as these nine issues of The Hockey News — dating from Feb. 3, 1962 (my third birthday) to Mar. 14, 1964 — and still enclosed in the plastic sleeves from the day (whenever it was) I purchased them. I suspect I was drawn to not only the nostalgia (for my large hockey collection) but also the era, during which the Maple Leafs won three consecutive Stanley Cup championships under George (Punch) Imlach. Here are some closer images:
In the Nov. 30, 1963 issue was the summary (below) of a 4–1 triumph over Boston on Nov. 23 — one day after the assassination of American president John F. Kennedy in Dallas. And, the first period of the Sunday night (Nov. 24) game in New York; hours after Lee Harvey Oswald had been gunned down, also in Dallas.
The Dec. 14, 1963 issue featured details of a major brawl (Dec. 7) at Maple Leaf Gardens between Toronto and Chicago. A video of this game has been shown on the Leafs Classics episodes. Summaries (below) of both weekend Leafs games — at home to the Black Hawks (brawl with 3:03 left), then at Detroit on Sunday.
On the afternoon that the Feb. 22, 1964 edition (above) was published, the Leafs pulled off a massive, seven–player trade with the New York Rangers, who just happened to be in town for the Saturday night encounter. Punch Imlach acquired veteran forwards Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney for Dick Duff, Bob Nevin, Arnie Brown, Bill Collins and Rod Seiling. Though it resulted in a third consecutive Stanley Cup — with Bathgate scoring the decisive goal against Detroit in the Cup final — the trade was ridiculous. Nevin, Duff, Collins, Seiling and Brown combined Stanley Cup experience and youth. Only McKenney was nearing the end of his career. I’ll never forget how George Armstrong, captain of the 1960’s Leafs, once told me “the trade was totally unnecessary. We may have won a few more Cups had we kept that crew. Duff and Nevvy had lots of hockey left. The two defensemen (Seiling, Brown) were kids. It was a bad move.” The Chief played through the 1970–71 season, then retired.
Masthead of the Feb. 22, 1964 issue (left) with publisher Ken McKenzie’s weekly column. Summaries (right) from several mid–February games. And, lots of future NHL stars included (below) in the OHA Junior A report, by legendary reporter/columnist Jack Gatecliff of the St. Catharines Standard.
ARGOS DRAW BIG CROWD TO OPENER… AND DISAPPOINT
Given how thoroughly the defense was torn apart in free agency, and still without starting quarterback Chad Kelly, the Toronto Argonauts are struggling out of the gate. Pretty much as anticipated. And, the immediate prospects are bleak, as the club finished its home opener, on Saturday, with four of its most–important players banged up: Kelly, Dionta McMahon, Janarion Grant and Wynton McManis. Merely the two offensive leaders; the club’s breakaway kick returner and the emotional fulcrum of the defense. Otherwise, all was fine with the Double Blue (sigh).
The Canadian Football League season is ridiculously long; getting into these mid–June games is a challenge, though it seemed as if the Grey Cup momentum from last November had withstood the long winter and spring.
Nearly 18,000 fans attended the 29–19 loss to the Calgary Stampeders, roughly four thousand shy of seating capacity (the club still blocks off the upper deck on the east side, which provides some of the best vantagepoints in the park; as per TSN, which likes the TV look of a full lower deck). Sadly for the Boatmen, the championship momentum is nowhere to be found on the field. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle, the hero of the Grey Cup triumph over Winnipeg, has been ordinary in the opening losses to the Stamps and Alouettes. Back–up Tucker Horn put up some yardage in the pre season and Saturday’s match was screaming for a quarterback change. But, coach Ryan Dinwiddie’s biggest strength is also his prime weakness: loyalty. As such, Arbuckle kept trotting out there, even while foundering. Aesthetically, the Argonauts looked fabulous (below) in baby blue from head to toe. But, the season has started without a ton of promise. The 2–0 Saskatchewan Roughriders come to town on Friday night.
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
Howard,I just read your post on twitter about the leafs getting Marchand,Bennett and mcdavid next year,whatever you are smoking please stop it,it’s playing tricks with your brain lol
No drugs required. 😛
Those 2 scum bag players have injured many players and should be looked at as losers. Them and the league are an embarrassment. That doesn’t mean the Leafs should stoop so low! If my favourite team needs to lower themselves to scum then I’d rather they just not win the Cup because the Cup means little when players like those thrive in winning it.
Losing always hurts.
That saying about an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object is appropriate when talking about the current leafs. Marchand, Bennet or whoever I/we/you think can be taped onto and elevate the competitiveness of this pampered, coddled, and protected “core” group of players will barely provide a blip on the way to inevitable playoff disappointment, with or without little Mitchy. It’s possible that Brad and Sam, having already secured their legacies with 2 cups and seeking their first real payday contracts will turn into relative pumpkins. Sure they’ll still have WAY more spark than vacant stare Mathews, who’s more interested in being a fashion influencer but there’s little chance they can move the needle of desire in him enough to throw a check or punch or score a goal in a pressure situation.
Though only tangentially related to the topic, I think the cancellation of Marner’s charity event speaks volumes about him and his problematic attitude and that it’s illustrative of the flawed core too. Selfish, obstinate, defensive, and arrogant are not characteristics of team leaders. I’m really disappointed in him. I remember him blocking shots in the washington series and thinking, “this kid’s a keeper.” Such a shame.
Well said Joel. Many players have left teams/cities and still have maintained a charity event to raise money. I also agree, we might be getting two players who have lost the drive to be what attracts them to us. It would be embarassing if the Leafs signed them and they turned out to be a flop. I am glad I don’t have the job of GM.
Who cares about a charity event? We are talking about building the Leafs into a winner. Nothing else. I think Mitch Marner has had it with the poor management of the team during his career here. Letting good players go and not improving or building the team the right way. Pissing away all those first rounders at trade deadlines and accomplishing nothing. Is it all on the players? It’s management that builds teams, whether winners or losers. Look at this years deadline. Panthers acquire Marchand and Seth Jones. Leafs got Laughton and Carlo. Both teams gave up two first round draft picks in each case.
Everyone is missing the point here. You can go get McDavid and Draisaitl and it won’t make a difference. The Leafs are doomed as long as they have Matthews and Willy there. Neither will win a cup.
You forget they will lose some of that cap space to Knies.
So?
If TML wants to change their “DNA” as they claim; in addition to signing Marchand & Bennett, go after a proven winner in Jonathan Toews who wants to return to play again after a 2 season hiatus.
These 3 pieces brings TML leadership and a reset.
Sign them x3 !!!
Thanks, Howard – always great insight.
And your collection of memorabilia is impressive!
My collection of the Export A hockey calendars is long gone.
In your Hockey News scoring summaries, I find it interesting that each team is listed by their city name, except for the ‘Canadiens’.
I love Rielly, but he doesn’t seem to gel with Berube, and he’s as good as gone.
Bringing in Bennett and Marchand, and no brainers, but how do you find that star defenseman they are missing? Marchand and Bennett both have knacks for putting the puck in the net at the right time, but they still need somone to advance the puck up the ice and out of the defense-zone.
In the social contract we’ve come to understand between fan and team, no fan base has given more but received less in the last 58 years than those who cheer for the Maple Leafs. Shanahan, Marner, Rielly and Tavares need to understand this. So, too, do Treliving and Pelley – if they don’t already. In short, a good bit of ruthlessness and creativity would serve Treliving well right now.
Agree. Stay tuned Jon.
A little toughness with players and their agents never hurts. These guys have been given everything they asked for and they still feel we the fans, have let them down? I wish they could move Matthews. I would rather have Marner. Howard, those two in Florida would be great to have, but you know the old Leaf luck. They come here and “die” like the rest who were suppose to turn things around here.
First good bit of ruthlessness should be to sit down with Auston and tell him his DNA is no longer wanted, needed or required. That and only that will achieve the beginning of “changing the DNA”.