Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 bold predictions for 2019-20 season
By Simon Vacca
4. Young Marlies will be given an opportunity to shine
Kadri may have been the big name dealt, but Calle Rosen — a 6-foot, left-shot defenseman who recently graduated Sheldon Keefe’s Toronto Marlies system — was all but a lock to play on the Maple Leafs’ opening night roster. Now that he has been shipped off to the Avalanche, the Buds have to fill a void on the organization’s third D-pairing.
As it stands, there are several candidates from the Marlies who will now have legitimate opportunities to crack the Buds’ lineup — both in relation to and outside of the organization’s D-core. Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren are the most apparent favorites, but the question of whether either player is, in fact, ready to perform at the NHL level remains a source of debate. It is not unreasonable to expect Toronto to entertain the thought of giving one of these pieces a shot, as Liljegren was almost granted a chance to play as early as last winter.
There are also offensive holes that need filling, although the likelihood of the Maple Leafs’ roster up front being occupied by one of the team’s new signings is a very real possibility. Point aside, it is not just possible, but instead plausible to expect any of Jeremy Bracco, Mason Marchment and/or Pierre Engvall to be inserted into Mike Babcock’s lineup when the opportunity presents itself.