The Toronto Maple Leafs have a depleted roster due to the injury bug and should look to add some more players to the roster.
The Pittsburgh Penguins placed Philip Tomasino on waivers on Tuesday, and Maple Leafs analyst Michael Mazzei of LeafsNation urges Toronto to claim him.
“It is clear that this is a talented player who could use a fresh start, and it’s for that reason why the Leafs would be smart to take a flyer on the Mississauga native. … Tomasino is also a right-shot forward, which is an area where the Leafs are in desperate need of getting additional help up front to add more versatility,” Mazzei wrote.
“The team only has three such forwards in William Nylander, Calle Jarnkrok, and Nicolas Roy, the latter of which expected to miss a few games due to an upper-body injury. Having the ability to play someone comfortably on the right side at forward is just as important as on the backend.”
Tomasino was selected 24th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, but he has struggled to show he’s an everyday player in the NHL. Yet, with the Maple Leafs, Tomasino can get a chance to be a middle-six or top-six forward due to the injuries.
It’s also a no-risk move, as if Tomasino doesn’t pan out, Toronto can simply put him back on waivers. But if he does pan out with the Maple Leafs, it would be a nice addition to a struggling forward group.
Tomasino Would Add Depth for Maple Leafs
Not only would Tomasino add depth to the Maple Leafs roster this season, but he would also for multiple years.
By claiming Tomasino, Toronto would have his rights through the 2028-29 NHL season. So, it’s a low-cost, low-risk move, which Mazzei believes the Maple Leafs have to do.
“To make this work, putting one of Sammy Blais or Philippe Myers on waivers would more than likely be the play, since both would be on the outside looking in when the lineup is at full health regardless,” Mazzei wrote. “Given how desperate the Leafs would be to get a spark of some kind, there will surely be opportunities abound for him upon his arrival.
“While it is without its risks because of Tomasino’s inconsistencies, the upside and ability to retain his rights make the gamble worth it. That’s why it would be a good decision for the Leafs to claim him off waivers before the window closes at 2 p.m. on Friday.”
Tomasino has skated in 9 games, recording 1 assist this season with the Penguins. In his NHL career, he’s skated in 218 games, recording 34 goals and 61 assists for 95 points.
Toronto GM Looking to Make Team Better
The Maple Leafs have been struggling, and general manager Brad Treliving took the blame.
Treliving said on Tuesday that he’s looking to make the team better, but admits the Maple Leafs can’t trade out of their problems.
“You’re always looking to make your team better, regardless where your team is at, but there’s not one point where you say ‘Okay, today I’m going to ship out five guys,’” he said. “The reality is, you’re not trading your way out of problems.”
Toronto is off to a 9-9-2 start.
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