Toronto Maple Leafs should put in waiver claim for Devante Smith-Pelly

The Washington Capitals have placed Devante Smith-Pelly on waivers and the Toronto Maple Leafs should consider putting in a claim.

One thing people have been complaining about when it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs is their lack of toughness and that it is going to be a problem for them when the playoffs come around.

While it doesn’t make sense to spend assets to get a player who only fights, they should get someone who won’t be a liability on the ice, which is why they should put in a waiver claim for Devante Smith-Pelly.

It has been a rough go for the Scarborough native this season with four goals, four assists and eight points in 54 games for the Washington Capitals. This comes after the 26-year-old was a big playoff performer, scoring seven goals in their Stanley Cup run.

This is a player who can bring toughness, skates well and play a complementary role and since he wouldn’t cost the team an asset, you’d think general manager Kyle Dubas would consider it.

When Nazem Kadri took a hard collision from Vince Dunn, there was an outcry from some that nobody challenged the St. Louis Blues’ defenceman for knocking the centre out of the game. Once again, the debate about whether the Leafs need an enforcer or “tough guy” to protect these players has come up again.

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This is why Jake Muzzin was a great addition, because he is capable of breaking up the cycle with his physical play and able to clear the zone efficiently. Fans were excited to see Muzzin throw out a couple of strong hits and it appears there is more of a desire for physical play on the team.

Whether Smith-Pelly could be that player for Toronto remains to be seen, but having a player like him in the lineup gives you that element. This would be different than having a player like Roman Polak or Matt Martin, because you know Smith-Pelly can be a contributor.

Sure there are players like Wayne Simmonds and Micheal Ferland potentially available as trade candidates, but both would probably cost the Leafs assets they shouldn’t move for a rental like that. Unless the Leafs are getting a Tom Wilson-type player, it is tough to see them giving up major assets in this situation.

We discussed the rumours surrounding Adam McQuaid and why he wouldn’t be an ideal fit for the Leafs, even though he would bring toughness to the lineup. It is hard to expect one player to have that much of an impact, considering the team knows they need to play with more of an edge and are capable of doing it.

When it comes to playing a team like the Boston Bruins in the playoffs, the Leafs need to have a better mentality and maybe getting a player like Smith-Pelly could help with that. Also, how much of the lineup will the Leafs have to change just to incorporate toughness?

It would make more sense to try and find cost-effective ways to address that and hope players decide to play with more assertiveness.

Do you think the Leafs should add Smith-Pelly? How much of an emphasis should there be to add a physical player heading into the playoffs? Let us know in the comments below.