Toronto Maple Leafs' NHL Off-Season Report Card

This offseason, through July 9, the Leafs have drafted eight rookies, signed four  unrestricted free agents, and bought out two contracts among other moves. Grades will be given to each individual move, as well as each collection of moves.

Let's take a look at some of the offseason transactions the Leafs have made:

Draft Day - Overall Rating: A

Fifth overall: Luke Schenn, D, Kelowna Rockets, WHL

Schenn is a physical defenseman who is not afraid to get dirty along the boards—or with his fists. Over 189 WHL contests with the Kelowna Rockets, the rear guard posted 325 PIM, as well as adding 68 points (12-56).  

Offense is not his forte, but he is known for shutting down opposing offenses on his own end. The Maple Leafs pulled off a last-second trade for the No. 5 pick to secure Schenn.

Rating: A+

60th overall: Jimmy Hayes, RW, USHL

Hayes, who is a cousin of Keith Tkachuk, is projected to be a power forward like Tkachuk—and up until last season, was considered a surefire first-rounder. He will play for Boston College next season and develop in the NCAA. He should become a star for the Leafs one day.

Rating: B+

Leafs' Own UFA's/RFA's - Overall Rating: C+

Kyle Wellwood

Despite posting 108 points over 189 games with the leafs over four seasons, this RFA was Waived, then picked up by the Vancouver Canucks. He was only 25 and still had a load of potential waiting to be uncovered.

Rating: D

Matt Stajan

Over 314 games in the NHL—all with Toronto—the 24-year-old has scored 56 goals and 71 assists from the third and fourth lines. This scoring asset could jump to the top two lines this year with the coming absence of Mats Sundin, and is also a candidate to wear the "C" for the blue and white next year.

He was an RFA and was re-signed to a two year, $3.5 million deal.

Rating: A

John Pohl

Over two seasons, this 29-year-old UFA had 33 points over 82 games. However, this depth player was not re-signed, and signed with HC Lugano of the Swiss League. He was a non-factor in many games, at many times a healthy scratch.

Rating: C

Mats Sundin

The heart and soul of the Leafs' organization is taking time to decide his future, but it seems likely the 37-year-old will not be back in blue and white. 

Sundin has 1,321 NHL career points, over 1,000 of them in a Leafs uniform. Sundin could be a huge mentor to the young Leafs if he returns—but would also carry a cap hit.

Rating: B- (Either way, signed or not)

Buyouts - Overall Rating: A

Darcy Tucker

Tucker was a gritty forward, but he had a decrease in production after signing a three-year, $9 million extension. Although his production was not overly bad nor his contract overly expensive, it was time for a change. Letting him go seems to be the right thing to do. 

Rating: B+

Andrew Raycroft

Raycroft spent two seasons for the Leafs, one as a starter and the other as a backup. He received a lot of criticism in both of the years he played with the Leafs. He was bought before the last year of his contract. This was done to make room to bring in Curtis Joseph as a veteran backup to Vesa Toskala.

Rating: A+

Free Agent Frenzy - Overall Rating: A-

Jeff Finger

Through 94 NHL games, this shutdown guy has a reputation for stopping the opposition's best offensive players. With a lot of offensive defensemen on the roster, Finger will be a welcome addition as a young, shut-down D-man—though at a hefty price, of $14 million over four seasons.

Rating: B+

Niklas Hagman

Hagman, 28 years old, was very consistent last year for the Dallas Stars, scoring 27 goals, and is affordable at $12 million over four years. This signing will hopefully help the Leafs out over many years to come. An overlooked free agent, Hagman has improved his scoring total over his past three seasons.

Rating: A-

Curtis Joseph

Joseph is a veteran of many years of NHL experience who will bring quality backup goaltending to the team for only $700,000. Joseph will act as a leader and mentor to this young, rebuilding team. If goalies were allowed to wear C's, Joseph would be your man.

Rating: A

Jonas Frogren  

Frogren has spent his career playing defense in Sweden. He has been signed to a deal—but the deal as written has currently been rejected by the NHL.

However, the deal is expected to get done. Frogren will be a great addition as a stay-at-home defenseman—although he lacks offense.

Rating: B

Trades: Overall Rating: C+

Jamal Mayers

Coming from St. Louis in exchange for a third-round draft pick, Mayers has never scored over 27 points in a single season. But he has grit, and will give the Leafs' checking unit a solid shut-down forward. He replaces the grit lost when Darcy Tucker was bought out.

Rating: B-

Mikhail Grabovski

Acquired from Montreal in exchange for a future second-round pick, and fifth-round draft pick Greg Pateryn. Grabovski played in 24 NHL games, collecting nine points.

Although they had to give up two draft picks, the Leafs should get some good production from Grabovski this coming season.

Rating: C

Overall Total Rating: B+

The Toronto Maple Leafs' offseason moves haven't been as good as some hoped because they didn't sign a top-flight free agent.

However, for what the Leafs organization was planning to do, I believe their offseason has them pushed off in the right direction. Cliff Fletcher has decided to rebuild and has received some young building blocks in order to do so.