Bruce Boudreau wants Sam Bennett and an offensive defenceman on Leafs’ summer shopping list

Just 10 days ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs were one win away from their first Conference Finals appearance in decades, a win that could have drastically changed the conversation this offseason. But after another Game 7 defeat, it’s clear change is coming in Toronto.

John Tavares and Mitch Marner are both pending UFAs to watch heading to July. While Tavares’ status is debated, Marner seems to be on the way out of Toronto this summer, leaving the Maple Leafs with some extra cash and a shopping list to make.

Toronto native and former Maple Leaf Bruce Boudreau stopped by Leafs Morning Take on Wednesday, and of course they had to get the longtime NHL coach’s opinion on what the Leafs should be looking for this summer.

“[Sam] Bennett to me is at the top of the list, that kind of player,” Boudreau said. “They can move Nylander up with Matthews and really not hurt anything … They could sign Tavares and make him the third line centre, and Bennett the second, or vice-versa. I think it would be really good.”

As one of this summer’s top free agents, Bennett has been a highly sought after name for the Leafs. The Ontario native brings physicality and a killer instinct to the playoffs, which has bit Toronto before. But hey, if you can’t beat ’em, sign ’em, right?

Besides that, Boudreau said he doesn’t see the need for a ton of improvement on offence, with some heavy hitters already leading the charge for them. Not to mention the others on the way, as Boudreau called Matthew Knies “a superstar in the making,” predicting he will score 40 goals next season, while also shouting out up-and-comer Easton Cowan.

So besides looking at signing the obvious top talent on the market that the Leafs are sure to target if Marner walks and frees up cap space, Boudreau also identified one key thing he hopes to see on the Maple Leafs’ shopping list this summer.

“They were the lowest scoring team offensively from the blue line last year,” Boudreau said. “I think they need another right-handed defenceman that can score, that can put up points … I think the Leafs only scored like 21 goals from defence. They need to get a little more aggressive offensively from that standpoint I think.”

The top right-handed defenceman set to hit the market this summer is Aaron Ekblad, another Ontario native who currently plays alongside Bennett on the Florida Panthers. It’s a bit of a long shot, but worth a phone call anyways.

There’s a lot of ways this offseason could go for the Maple Leafs, but the overwhelming sense from the fanbase is that they want to see change. Now it’s up to management to get the job done, attract top talent, and field a winning roster come this October.