As I discussed last week, the Leafs are ready to contend for a Cup right now, on paper. To have a major contract-holdout distraction hanging over their heads for a second straight season would have been criminal. They also have two strong top-four defensemen heading to free agency that are going to get paid, and it’s hard to imagine the team being able to afford both unless they make a trade to free up cap space.
Knowing that, it’s hard to imagine their defense being better in 2020-21; they are likely going to be ushering good, promising young defensemen into the league next season, which means an adjustment period before they’re ready to be quality top-four NHL defensemen.