Maple Leafs Land Perfect Fit on Defense

The loss of superstar forward Mitch Marner defined the offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Losing a 100-point scorer is a monumental loss for the organization and a failure of the team to capitalize on the immense talent they had since their ill-fated Core Four came to be.

In the quest to end the half-century-long Stanley Cup drought, the Maple Leafs are trying to reimagine and reconfigure their roster. Part of that work included the acquisition of 24-year-old defenseman Henry Thrun in a trade with the San Jose Sharks. It may feel like one of the minor moves that will get lost in the shuffle, but Thrun addresses a huge need for Toronto. So much so, it could result in him being a perfect fit for the Maple Leafs.

There were two stretches during this past season where Thrun stood out for the Sharks. Around the midway point and again over the final weeks of the season, his ice time rose from around 16 minutes to closer to 20 minutes per game.

What Thrun did during that run of approximately 15 games was play a heavy defensive game. He was relentless along the boards and won those puck battles because of it. Standing at 6'2", the big defender has a size advantage that he relied on during his most impressive games. Strong and sturdy, he shows glimpses of being a shut-down defenseman in the right role.

The Maple Leafs can't replace the superstar scoring they lost, but what they can do is improve their team's depth and defensive structure. Acquiring Thrun is a step in the right direction for Toronto. He can be a middle or bottom-pairing defenseman for the Leafs and pitch in on the penalty kill.

Thrun is also unafraid to drop the gloves. While they no longer have enforcer Ryan Reaves on the roster, Thrun will be happy to step in if anyone challenges one of the remaining Leafs' stars.

All in all, the Leafs did excellent work by moving Reaves out and bringing Thrun in. With more to prove and show at the NHL level, but a defensive presence already established, Toronto's newest defender could be a perfect fit this season.