Will the Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs are in a losing streak and are on the boarder line to make the playoffs if they continue to lose more games. A top defenseman to quarterback their power play is what they require, although defenseman don’t fall from trees and are hard to find, GM Bred Treliving has a task of looking for ways to booster their need for play-offs, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Bred would need to sign a top defenseman, who would quarterback the defense, one who can kill penalties as well control their backend specifically their power play by clearing their own zone.

Upgrade is also needed on the third and fourth line of forwards who can strengthen their chances, especially into play-off where more scoring is required and essential from these two lines for them to get over their usual hurdle of getting past the first round with exception of last year.

Goaltending is questionable, with Ilya Samsonov inconsistent in net this year now AHL bound to regain his confidence and as a starter of the leafs. While Joseph Woll has been reasonable on the backend and was having a calming impact on the team when healthy. Recent call up from the Marlies Martin Jones seems to have got his groove and turned out to be one of the better signings of summer by GM Brad Treliving.

While on Monday, the Leafs announced they are recalling Dennis Hildeby from the Toronto Marlies, their American Hockey League affiliate, to replace Samsonov was assigned to the Marlies but is not expected to dress and will be reevaluated when the team returns from their California road trip.

Hildeby, at age 22 has recorded 7-5-3 with the Marlies this season, posting a .919 save percentage and 2.20 GAA, in his first season in North America. Hildeby was picked in the fourth-round (122nd overall) by the Maple Leafs at the 2022 NHL Draft and was developing nicely at the AHL level and the Maple Leafs would do themselves a favor and develop Hildeby who still requires grooming and more time seasoning with the Marlies before becoming a full-time option for the Leafs. Unfortunately though, Toronto had no choice but to call on Hildeby with the struggles that Ilya Samsonov has encountered and issues with the cap situation.

We have to wait and see what GM Brad has up his sleeves and what he has planned to get the Maple Leafs to far in the play-offs time will tell as they do have most of the parts in place except some strong defense.