Toronto Maple Leafs analyst James Mirtle talked about the team’s problems in a recent interview with JD Bunkis. He said the Maple Leafs once thought about trading Brandon Carlo to the Buffalo Sabres for winger JJ Peterka. This move was considered before Peterka got traded to the Utah Mammoth in late June.
Speaking on Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Monday, Mirtle said there might be some buyer’s remorse about the Carlo trade.
“I think there’s buyer’s remorse for the Leafs with Brandan Carlo in the organization, yeah, and it’s telling that when they were looking at trading for a top-line winger,” Mirtle said. “They were looking at moving him.
“And in hindsight, they were looking at moving Carlo in a deal for JJ Peterka with Buffalo, and he would have been the Kessel ring piece that Buffalo ended up getting, you know, the big right-shot defenseman.”
Brandon Carlo joined the Maple Leafs in March from the Boston Bruins. Toronto traded Fraser Minten and two draft picks to get him. Mirtle added that trading for Peterka would have worked out pretty well.
“In hindsight, that would have worked out pretty well,” Mirtle said. “Because I think the problem with Carlo is that – not only hasn’t been fit with [Morgan] Riley – even been what we saw last year, hasn’t been that, but he’s also just another big guy that struggles with the puck,”
Carlo has played 16 games this season with two assists and a +2 rating. He continues to play good defense but adds little offense. Mirtle said the Leafs need more defensemen who can move the puck.
“And without [Chris] Tanev – with [Philippe] Myers in there, all of a sudden, you’ve got Benoit, you’ve got Myers… you’ve got even McCabe. You don’t have enough puck movers.”
JJ Peterka now plays for Utah after signing a five-year, $38.5 million contract worth $7.7 million per season. Peterka has scored four goals and added six assists in 16 games this season. He continues to develop as a skilled, fast winger.
Mirtle’s advice to the Maple Leafs on defense
The Maple Leafs have an 8-7-1 record this season, ranking sixth in the Atlantic Division. They average 3.69 goals per game, with William Nylander leading the team with 23 points, and John Tavares with nine goals. However, their defense has been weak, allowing 3.75 goals per game.
Mirtle also provided a solution for the Leafs, saying that their defense needs a change. They should add a player who can move the puck better.
“I think what they need to do, and I know you’ve been pushing for this, is get Myers out of the lineup…,” Mirtle said in the aforementioned interview. “Change the composition of your D and get someone who can move the puck, yeah, and he’s not amazing defensively either, but you’ve got to try something else.”
Toronto’s power play has dropped to 17.1 percent, while the penalty kill sits at 80.9 percent. The team needs a stronger defense to stay competitive this year.
Edited by Ankit Kumar