Toronto Maple Leafs: Vermette a decent fourth line contingency plan

Par Lindholm looks set to start as the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ fourth line centre this season, but the team should have a contingency plan in place should he need more time to adapt.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ fourth line isn’t expected to get much in the way of ice time this season, but having a line that can provide some defence could benefit a Leafs team which is expected to be overly offensive.

While he might not be a big name, Antoine Vermette could certainly be worth considering if Par Lindholm isn’t quite ready for the NHL early in the season.

Lindholm had a strong season in the Swedish Hockey League in 2017-18, registering 47 points (18 goals and 29 assists), but he has never played outside of his home nation and is somewhat of an unknown quantity for the NHL, particularly defensively.

Vermette, however, could still serve some purpose on the fourth line, particularly with his exceptional face-off statistics.

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Last season alone saw Vermette have a 60 percent success rate in the 1,015 draws he participated in during his 64-game season with the Anaheim Ducks; he sports a 56.9 percent career success rate.

While not having as strong a Corsi rating last season, at 45.3 percent, Vermette started in the defensive zone 57.5 percent of the time.

He blocked 40 shots and had 38 hits, while averaging just 13:45 minutes on the ice for the Ducks.

At 36 years old, Vermette is not expected to be a big contributor beyond a fourth line role, but he could still be useful in the face-off circle and the defensive zone.

The one-time Stanley Cup champion with the 2015 Chicago Blackhawks, certainly shouldn’t be a top priority for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he could be a cheap contingency plan should Lindholm need a bit more time adjusting to North American hockey.

His defensive utility and face-off success is a valuable skill set and could provide the Leafs’ blue-line corps with some support.

Vermette won’t contribute much offensively, with just 16 points (eight goals and eight assists) last season, but with the team’s fourth line potentially playing around just 10 minutes a night, Mike Babcock doesn’t need that.

But having a line Babcock can rely on to gain possession from the face-off circle and provide some defensive capabilities, is something that will certainly be attractive to the veteran coach.

If Lindholm impresses in camp, the need to sign the likes of Vermette diminishes, but if Babcock isn’t convinced by the Swede, having a back-up option isn’t the worst idea in the world.

What do you think Leafs Nation? Should the Leafs give Vermette a look in case Lindholm isn’t ready for the step up right away? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.