{"id":4540,"date":"2016-12-28T12:19:20","date_gmt":"2016-12-28T17:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=4540"},"modified":"2016-12-28T12:19:20","modified_gmt":"2016-12-28T17:19:20","slug":"toronto-maple-leafs-defense-plans-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/12\/28\/toronto-maple-leafs-defense-plans-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Maple Leafs Defense Plans for the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is no question that exciting times are ahead for the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a>. They have a lot of exciting young talent around which to build, especially at forward with Auston Matthews<\/strong><\/a>, Mitch Marner<\/strong><\/a>, and William Nylander<\/strong><\/a>. Despite some good young talent on defense, they do not have the stars their offense has. So what are the Toronto Maple Leafs defense plans for the future?<\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs Defense Plans for the Future<\/h2>\n

Current Roster<\/h3>\n

There is no question who the best player is on the Toronto\u00a0Maple Leafs top defense. The 22-year-old Morgan Rielly<\/strong> is signed through the 2021-22 season, and will lead this blue line for the next few years. The question is anyone else on the current roster going to join him for the ride?<\/p>\n

Is Jake Gardiner<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(six goals and\u00a017 points) going to be part of the Toronto Maple Leafs defense plans for the short or the long-term? The 26-year-old defenseman is signed for two more years following this season with an annual cap hit of $4.05 million.<\/p>\n

Gardiner has good size at 6’2″, 197 lbs, skilled offensive, strong skater, and an asset on the power play. However, defensively the Minnesota<\/a> native must continue to improve, especially in his own end, which is Toronto’s greatest weakness. That brings into question whether or not Gardiner is a long-term fit for Toronto.<\/p>\n

Nikita Zaitsev<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(one goal and\u00a014 points) can be a reliable all-around puck-moving blueliner for Toronto over the next few years. At just 25 years of age, Zaitsev can slide in nicely as the Leafs number-four defenseman.<\/p>\n

No question the Leafs need to improve their current NHL<\/a> roster in regards to their top-four defensemen.<\/p>\n

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Fleury misses with the poke check and Jake Gardiner nets the @budcanada game-winning goal for the @MapleLeafs<\/a>. https:\/\/t.co\/C04IzZYF5C<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 18, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n