TLN Monday Mailbag: April 24th

Just because the season is done, doesn’t mean we are. Granted, this was a bit of a quiet site today as we all took in the events of Game 6 and had a breather, but there’s still work to do! For example, there’s this pile of questions (that we took before puck drop, no less), that must be addressed:

The next move is to spend some time look at the reinforcement wave. The Leafs may be done, but the Marlies are in the mist of their own playoff push, heading to Game 3 of the first round on Wednesday night at Ricoh Coliseum. There’s a significant combination of on-the-bubble prospects, and pending RFA/UFA players, and some decisions as far as career paths go have to be made in a few cases.

There’s a ton else on the agenda for the team, but that’s likely the most immediate priority, save for the run going deep and approaching the draft day(s).

I’ve probably been on the sign Jumbo train longer than anybody, first suggesting it as an option as early as the preseason. Thornton hasn’t rushed to sign his extension as he has in the past with the Sharks, previously signing with a year to spare and six months. That could change, but until he does, the idea that the 37-year-old might want to jump to a rising team where he can be more of a support player on a short-term deal is interesting.

For the Leafs, it would be massive to get a player who, while he’s approaching the end of his career, is still an elite play driver and top line calibre point producer. As long as they can keep him down to a 1-year deal (don’t need another Robidas situation if his knee injury gets re-aggravated), hand the man a blank cheque and get on with it.

It’s hard to say, given that the Leafs have a ton of forwards already and could be in the mix for more top-end support in the coming months. As far as abundantly NHL ready in general, though? I still feel that Seth Griffith is plenty capable, and it’s a real shame that Brendan Leipsic and Kerby Rychel didn’t get a chance to show their hands at a higher level this year. There are NHL teams that could absolutely use their services.

Moving to the back, I’d imagine Travis Dermott and Rinat Valiev could make an NHL team without sticking out in a negative way, though they might still both be a year away. If Garret Sparks’ injury luck bounces back in any way, he’d be at least a capable backup.

The general idea here is that there are quite a few players on that team who could find an NHL home. Nobody who would step in and become an immediate high-impact player, but plenty of capable ones.

It’s too early to say. All depends on who moves in and out in the centre position. He’s certainly capable of playing centre if need be, but in a world where Toronto already has Matthews, Kadri, and Bozak, and could bring back Boyle, and as we suggested in Question #2, could take a run at Thornton if the opportunity is there, it might make sense to let Nylander continue to be be an great to elite winger in the immediate future.

They should’ve traded Nylander when they had the chance.

*looks at Noah Syndergaard’s hair*

Welp