Grading the Top Offseason Moves for the Toronto Maple Leafs

It has been an interesting offseason in Toronto, and after a number of fast and furious moves, the biggest story out of the metropolis involves Phil Kessel and a hot dog truck.

While most know that a hot dog isn't a sandwich, apparently there's something fishy about a story that ran in the Toronto Sun once Kessel was dealt.

It has received national attention, and it is unfortunate that the story has overshadowed some of the major moves that the Leafs have pulled off thus far.

It started with the hiring of Mike Babcock in May, continued with the trade of Kessel and appears to be finished with free agency winding down. There are a number of moves to talk about, and here are the top ones that Toronto has made thus far.

Hiring Mike Babcock

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Grade: A+

The hiring of Mike Babcock was the official start the Maple Leafs' offseason and symbolized the direction the team was headed in. Babcock is regarded as the top coach in hockey and has a resume that includes a Stanley Cup and two Olympic gold medals.

He replaces Peter Horachek behind the bench, and his addition will be a benefit to a number of players on the roster.

Babs was the best coach available, and Toronto landed him despite the fact that it looked like he was heading to Buffalo or back to Detroit. He has the ability to turn Toronto in a contender over time and will get his first crack at making some changes in a few months.

Trade of Phil Kessel

Grade: C-

The Maple Leafs dealt one of the most talented goal scorers in the NHL July 1, and he will get to play with one of the NHL's top centers in Pittsburgh. Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby will likely get a chance to play with Kessel from the start, and Phil will stick with the one he has the most chemistry with.

In exchange for Kessel, the Penguins parted with Kasperi Kapanen, Scott Harrington for now. Nick Spalling is also headed to Toronto, while Tim Erixon and Tyler Biggs were shipped to Pittsburgh.

There are draft picks involved, but none of them are official yet because they are contingent on how the Penguins play according to Sportsnet.

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If Pittsburgh qualifies for the 2016 post-season, Toronto will receive the Penguins' 2016 first-round draft pick; and the Penguins will receive Toronto’s 2016 second-round selection. The second-round pick would be the one Toronto originally acquired from Pittsburgh for Daniel Winnik earlier this year.

Should Pittsburgh miss the 2016 playoffs, Toronto will INSTEAD receive the Penguins’ 2017 first-round pick; with Pittsburgh getting Toronto’s 2017 second-round selection in return.

If the Penguins were to miss the post-season the next two years, Toronto would receive Pittsburgh’s 2017 second-round draft pick and Pittsburgh would not receive a draft pick.

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According to the announcement, the Leafs also retained 15 percent of Kessel's contract, so they will carry $1.2 million in dead salary-cap space.

This grade isn't necessarily about the return received for Kessel so much as the Leafs' dumb decision to trade him. Kessel has been the NHL's fourth-best scorer in the last five seasons, as only Corey Perry, Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos have more goals in that span.

Keep in mind that Kessel accomplished this with a below-average center like Tyler Bozak, whereas Ovechkin had Nicklas Backstrom, Corey Perry had Ryan Getzlaf and Stamkos played a significant amount of time with Martin St. Louis.

Kessel didn't get a chance to play for Babcock, and the organization felt it was better to trade him than acquire a real first-line center.

Kapanen, Harrington, Spaling and a pick are nice, but having one of the NHL's elite scorers is even better.

If you want to trade Kessel because the Leafs are going through a rebuild, that is fine. However, it would have made more sense to give him a year with Babcock and sell while his value was high.

Re-Signing of Nazem Kadri

Graig Abel/Getty Images

Grade: B

Nazem Kadri is a talented center who was a restricted free agent in search of a new contract. The Leafs inked him to a new deal that will pay him $4.1 million for the 2015-16 season, and he will be an RFA again in July 2016.

The Leafs have given him a chance to prove himself before they make a long-term commitment, and it will be an opportunity to see how he fits in Babcock's system.

Kadri is a solid center who has produced better than people will give him credit for. Stephen Burtch of Sportsnet and Pension Plan Puppets pointed out that Kadri has produced even-strength points at a similar rate to centers like Matt Duchene, Joe Thornton and Logan Couture.

Kadri hasn't received as much time on ice, and if that changes under Babcock, his overall point total should better reflect his total value.

Drafting of Mitch Marner

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Grade: A

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a chance at No. 1 overall in June, but they stayed at No. 4 after the Edmonton Oilers won the Connor McDavid sweepstakes. In the cleanup spot, there were a number of highly skilled and coveted players.

Toronto took Mitch Marner.

The Leafs could have taken an impact defender such as Ivan Provorov or Noah Hanifin, but they addressed the need to add an impact forward to their prospect pool.

The Leafs' addition of Marner gives them a prospect with superstar potential. The London Knights forward may not have as high a ceiling as McDavid or Jack Eichel, but he has a skill set that isn't found anywhere on the Leafs' roster.

This isn't to slight William Nylander, but it just speaks to Marner's overall ability. There's a reason Patrick Kane has been used as a comparable for the Leafs' top prospect, and it helps that Marner has modeled his game after the three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Complementary Signings

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Grade: B-

The Leafs have made a number of complementary signings this summer, and the two biggest include Shawn Matthias and the return of Daniel Winnik.

Matthias is a "utility" player in the sense that he can play anywhere in the top nine. He spent time at center and wing for the Vancouver Canucks this past season, tallying 17 goals at even strength.

Winnik spent 58 games with the Leafs and tallied seven goals and 25 points before going to Pittsburgh, where he posted nine points in 21 games.

Winnik will slot in Toronto's top nine and can be counted on for about 30 points. Matthias can also be penciled in for 12 to 15 goals and 30 points, but that could change depending on how he is utilized.

The best part of these deals is that they are cheap and short, so that means the Leafs can flip the two veterans at the trade deadline for future assets.

The addition of Taylor Beck was also nice for the Leafs, and as Sportsnet's Steve Dangle pointed out, he would have been a top-10 goal scorer on the 2014-15 Leafs squad.

Toronto also added players such as Mark Arcobello and P.A. Parenteau, but there's a chance they could be deployed in a more prominent role depending on what other players are moved this offseason.

Defense Moves

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Grade: B-

The Maple Leafs made some savvy moves to help their blue line, and the transactions won't cost them much in cap space. Matt Hunwick was signed to a two-year deal worth $1.2 million a season, and it is a low-cost move for a top-six defender with some decent advanced stats, per CorsiHockeyLeague.

Toronto also re-signed Martin Marincin after acquiring him in a trade for Brad Ross and a fourth-round pick.

Marincin is a prospect who just was a victim of the numbers game in Edmonton, and he has some significant upside. Stephen Burtch notes the defender boasts some solid underlying numbers, and he could fight for a top-four spot on the right side.

The Leafs made two low-risk moves for two cheap defenders who have the potential to be stabilizing forces on the second or third pairing.

These moves have the fingerprints of interim general manager Kyle Dubas all over them, as the young executive has an appreciation for advanced stats.

Overall

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Grade: B-

The Maple Leafs have had an active offseason to date, and they may still make additional changes. The addition of Babcock was a surprise move, and the same can be said about the trading of Kessel.

If those decisions are deemed offsetting moves, there are the additions of Marner, Spaling, Matthias, Winnik, Kapanen, Harrington, Hunwick and so on to consider. The Leafs are heading toward a rebuild that has only just begun, but all things considered, they are trending in the right direction.

There's a chance the Kessel move is looked at as a regrettable one, but the Leafs have other things to worry about for the immediate future.

Stats via Hockey-Reference.com and financial information via General Fanager unless otherwise noted.