When people think of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a few things come to mind. The club carries a rich and storied history in the center of the hockey universe-Toronto. They also possess the likes of elite-level players such as Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner, to name a few.
Heading into the 2020-21 campaign, the Leafs’ defensive corps will have a new and improved outlook, spearheaded by the likes of newcomers T.J. Brodie, and Zach Bogosian. Brodie arrives after a decade with the Calgary Flames, while Bogosian is fresh off a Stanley Cup triumph this past summer with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Let’s dive in and profile each of the two and what they mean for a Toronto club that is constructed for a very deep playoff run next season.
T.J. Brodie
Brodie was one of the most highly sought-after defensemen on the free agent market this fall after the likes of Alex Pietrangelo and Torey Krug. When the dust settled, Pietrangelo ended up with the Vegas Golden Knights and Krug headed to the Midwest as the newest member of the St. Louis Blues. Brodie opted for Toronto.
On October 9, 2020, he and the Maple Leafs agreed to terms on a four-year, $20 million contract. At 30 years of age, Brodie has been “around the block” at the NHL level and brings with him an extensive toolkit. On the ice, he is a solid, steady, intelligent skater who reads and reacts to the game at a high level. Brodie is fluid on his feet and moves the puck effectively in all three zones, which will be a major plus for Toronto’s high-octane offense which loves to possess the puck in dangerous, goal-scoring positions.
In Calgary, Brodie was known as an all-action blue-liner who loved to jump into the rush. His eye for offense helped Calgary’s power play for the better part of nine seasons. During his time out West, Brodie posted six 30-plus point seasons and three seasons with at least 30 assists. This move was an absolute no-brainer for Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, and arguably one of his best acquisitions (on paper) in charge of the team. For a Leafs team that struggled to keep the puck out of their net at times during 2019-20 and in dire need of upgrades on the blue-line, Brodie will be a huge plus for the blue and white.
Zach Bogosian
Coming off a Stanley Cup championship with the Bolts in 2019-20, Bogosian will be a welcome addition to the Leafs’ defensive corps. At 30-years-old (like Brodie), the former third-overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft will be just what the doctor ordered on a Toronto team that was shabby at best in their own end last season. Additionally, his one-year/$1 million contract is a picture-perfect fit for a Leafs team right up against the all-important salary cap.
At 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, the right-shot defenseman from Mesena, NY fills a few voids on Toronto’s blue-line. For one, he’s big, mean and physical, and is not afraid to lay the body. In addition, “Bogo” is as tough as they come and can adapt to any style of play. He is cerebral, good in his own end, and can move the puck better than many give him credit for. Bogosian excels because of his combination of size and strong skating ability. The Leafs were often pushed around last year, have endured several playoff shortcomings in recent years; they have been bounced in the first round of the postseason in four consecutive years. With Bogosian in town, they will certainly be a much tougher team to play against heading into 2020-21.
2020-21 Prognosis
With the start of the 2020-21 NHL campaign still a ways away, Dubas has been hard at work bolstering his roster. At forward, he added the likes of Joey Anderson, Joe Thornton, Jimmy Vesey, and Wayne Simmonds. Both Brodie and Bogosian (say that five times fast), signify the proverbial changing of the guard on Toronto’s blue-line and should help the likes of Jake Muzzin and Morgan Rielly tremendously over the course of a long (or short) season. Leafs fans should be very excited for the start of next season… whenever that may be.
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