Offseason Outlook: Toronto Maple Leafs

With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder set to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.

2016-17 Grade: A

Very few would have predicted a playoff spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, but after defying the odds with a rookie-heavy roster, many feel the team had what it takes to oust the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals after forcing five games to overtime in Round 1.

Mike Babcock and the Maple Leafs saw a 26-point improvement after finishing with the worst record in the league a season earlier, all while allowing their rookies to play in all situations and make mistakes.

Free Agents

2017 Draft Picks

After taking a combined 20 picks in the last two drafts, the Maple Leafs have just seven selections this time around, a sign the rebuilding period is quietly coming to an end.

Summer priorities

1. Upgrade defense

It's no secret that the Maple Leafs' biggest flaw is their thin defensive corps.

Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner both appeared to take a big step forward in their development - especially in the postseason - and Nikita Zaitsev appears to have been a smart gamble, but it stops there.

The team still lacks a true No. 1 and won't be able to attain one for nothing. Some rumors suggest the team could have its eyes on Karl Alzner of the Capitals, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Toronto needs more than that.

The Maple Leafs will have to decide whether to risk dealing one of their young forwards for a proven defenseman. If they are keen on improving on this season, they must get better in their own end somehow.

2. Sign capable backup

This could be as simple as re-upping Curtis McElhinney.

The Maple Leafs acquired McElhinney on Jan. 10 after he was placed on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Upon joining the club, the 33-year-old posted a .914 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average in 14 games.

The Maple Leafs dealt Jhonas Enroth after he allowed 18 goals in six games without collecting a single win for the team. The Maple Leafs might want more than McElhinney, but the fact is they need someone who can be relied on for at least adequate goaltending to offer Frederik Andersen the occasional rest.

3. Continue to develop young stars

It's important to understand that even though the Maple Leafs enjoyed great success this season, they are still extremely young. While it's easy to project even better seasons from the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, they're still just becoming accustomed to life in the NHL.

These three and many others on the Maple Leafs have more growing, learning, and improving to do before Toronto can be considered among the best clubs in the East.

2017-18 Outlook

The 2016-17 season went about as well as the Maple Leafs could have hoped - minus a series win over the Capitals.

Their three most promising rookies made significant impacts in their first true tastes of the NHL and each thrived. Matthews, Marner, and Nylander all earned Rookie of the Month honors - Nylander twice - and gave fans something to be proud of for the first time in a long time.

The team made its first playoff appearance since the 2012-13 campaign and Toronto's problems in goal appear to be fixed.

That said, there's still lots of room for improvement. The defense is in drastic need of an upgrade and a steady backup goalie would go a long way.

If 2016-17 was just a sneak peek of what is to come for the Maple Leafs, it might not be too long before they really can be considered contenders. And when was the last time anyone said that about the Maple Leafs?

Offseason Outlook Series

COL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF
DET | DAL | FLA | LAK | CAR
WPG | PHI | TBL | NYI | WSH
TOR | CGY | BOS | SJS | STL
NYR | EDM | MTL | ANA | MIN
CBJ | CHI | OTT | PIT | NAS
LGK

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)