Toronto Maple Leafs: Full line combination predictions for 2018-19

Defensive Pairings

Morgan Rielly-Ron Hainsey

Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev

Travis Dermott-Connor Carrick/Igor Ozhiganov/Justin Holl

If dreams of Stanley Cup contention are to become a reality, then the biggest hurdle that the Maple Leafs shall be required to jump is that of the innumerable amount of questions regarding the team’s blue line. And if GM Kyle Dubas and his administrative counterparts opt to leave the club’s back end in its present state — which looks ever more likely as the 2018-19 campaign approaches — then one can expect a reasonable degree of scrutiny to run rampant across the hockey world.

Let’s be clear: the situation is not as dire as some project it to be. In fact, the argument can be made that a wealth of talent encompasses the Buds’ left side. Both Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner are coming off seasons in which they tallied 52 points, Travis Dermott was a valuable asset in the 37 games in which he appeared — this, despite the fact that he primarily ate up sheltered minutes — and the likes of Andreas Borgman, Martin Marincin and Calle Rosen are all sufficient fill-in options in the event of an injury to a core defensive leftie.

The right side, however, is far more problematic. 37-year-old Ron Hainsey was frequently tasked with undertaking an enormous workload, Nikita Zaitsev’s off-ice struggles ultimately translated into on-ice shortcomings and Connor Carrick consistently battled Roman Polak for a regular spot on the club’s roster. As such, rumblings of an off-season trade continue to occupy the talk circuit of hockey media, with the Maple Leafs rumoured to be in the running for one of Justin Faulk, Tyler Myers or Colton Parayko.

It’s far from a pretty picture, but hints of better days for the Maple Leafs’ defensive units are there. Timothy Liljegren shall not — and must not — be rushed, but he remains frank in expressing his desire to take his game to the next level. Igor Ozhiganov, a 25-year-old right shot, offers size and a defensive edge to a roster that is otherwise lacking in each of the aforementioned departments. Carrick, recently signed to a one-year, $1.3 million contract, knows that the next season can serve as a career-defining moment — the outcome of which will surely dictate whether a future in Ontario’s capital is, in fact, feasible. And Justin Holl, a fan-favorite among supporters of the Toronto Marlies, shall likely earn consideration among the coaching staff as a potential seventh option.

Of course, this is not an attempt to side-step any very real criticisms of the Maple Leafs’ blue line — nor is it an effort to calm the winds of speculative talk. The high-risk, high-reward nature of Gardiner’s game, in particular, continues to be one of the most polarizing issues among not only the Buds’ fans, but also among hockey lovers on a much broader scale. It is not unreasonable to assume, but it is alternatively valid to presume that his name will continue to act as a staple of trade talks — especially closer to the 2019 deadline.

For now, the Maple Leafs’ administration is not without a range of defensive options. Few would doubt that the situation is far from ideal, but the notion that the current lineup strains the edges of disaster is equally reductionist in scope.