If Patrik Laine Comes to the Maple Leafs, Who Leaves?

I was reading through some of the comments from Toronto Maple Leafs fans about the possibility of Patrik Laine coming to Toronto, and there’s one thing that really stood out. Most of the discussion isn’t about whether Laine can still score. It’s about whether the team actually has a place for him. And that’s a pretty important distinction.

---

---

Here’s What Maple Leafs Fans Said About Bringing in Laine

One fan asked the obvious question: if Laine comes in, who comes out? Jack Roslovic? Easton Cowan? Colton Sissons? Nick Paul? That’s the problem with adding another recognizable forward to a roster that already has a pretty clearly defined structure. Somebody has to lose ice time, move down the lineup or, potentially, get moved somewhere else. That’s where the Laine discussion gets interesting.

Another fan basically made the argument that Laine might work if he were used almost entirely for offence. Put him with the better players, give him offensive-zone starts and let him play on the power play. That sounds simple enough. But hockey rarely works that way.

If Laine isn’t scoring, what else is he giving you? That’s the question that seems to bother a lot of Maple Leafs fans. Toronto has spent a lot of time this offseason trying to build a team with more depth, more responsibility and, presumably, fewer passengers.

You would be betting that the scoring ability is still in there somewhere and that the Maple Leafs could put him in a situation where he doesn’t have to do everything else. One fan was even more blunt, suggesting Laine’s defensive problems could make him a real liability if he isn’t producing. That’s probably the extreme end of the argument, but there is a legitimate point buried in it.

The Real Question Is Whether the Gamble Is Worth It

What I find interesting is that the fans don’t seem completely opposed to Laine. There is a little bit of a “sure, if he’s cheap enough” feeling in some of the comments. And I get that. If you’re bringing in Laine on a short, inexpensive deal and asking him to become a power-play specialist who can give you 20 goals, maybe that’s a gamble worth taking.

The real worry seems to be the “what do we sacrifice?” part, because Laine could add some offence, but it could come at the expense of the Maple Leafs’ long-term plan. The team would have to change roles, push someone out, or pay big money for a version of him that hasn’t shown up lately.

The bottom line is that fans are skeptical. Sometimes it’s not about whether the player fits. It’s about what has to move for him to fit.

Related: 5 Fascinating Facts About ex-Oilers & Maple Leafs Ben Scrivens