Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Defencemen Aiming to Feature Next Season
By Paul Taylor
1) Martin Marincin
Contract status: One-year $730,000 contract & set to become a RFA this summer
Drafted: 46th overall (second round) in 2010, by the Edmonton Oilers
NHL career stats:* 135 games / 1 goal & 13 assists / -8 / 17:25 average ice time
This season with the Leafs: 50 games / 3 assists / -2 / 14:52 average ice time
Strengths: Excellent size for the NHL and good puck-moving qualities, along with the ability to make sound judgements and quick decisions at the defensive end of the ice.
Weaknesses: Compromises his size advantage, by not playing physical enough and will likely never produce big offensive totals at the NHL level.
What he offers Toronto: Marincin was the first player acquired, after Mike Babcock joined the Leafs organisation. He is perceived as a good fit within Babcock’s systems, due to excellent possession stats. Potential-wise, he has the chance to be a top four defenceman for the Leafs.
Notes: Played for the Slovakia international team at the Winter Olympics and World Championships, in 2014.
* All stats as of March 12
Next: Frank Corrado