When it comes to face-offs, you have Matthews, Tavares, Spezza... and maybe Nylander.
Remember what happened in 2013 playoffs against Boston? Went from Bozak scoring short-handed, to being knocked out and missing game 7
Game 7 had Kadri win 22% of his face-offs, and Grabovski win 25% of his. The Leafs need a defensive 3rd liner who can also win face-offs.
Kerfoot is obviously not the answer. Not saying he can't be used effectively as a winger, but he's just not filling that need.
And to be honest, don't see anyone else doing it either. Engvall is working as good as to be expected, but I really don't want him
in the faceoff dot either. Simmonds return is adding another winger to a list of wingers and the Leafs have no real answer for a 3rd line center.
Player | 20-21 Season | Career
Erik Haula | 57.6% | 51.5%
Eric Staal | 49.6% | 49.1%
Riley Nash | 51.8% | 48.2%
Ryan Getzlaf | 51.8% | 49.1%
Derick Brassard | 49.4% | 48.4%
Luke Glendening | 67.7% | 55.0%
Travis Zajac | 48.6% | 53.8%
If we are going for faceoff ability alone, then Glendening is the clear choice. He also adds the physicality that people like. Downside, he is not a great PKer even though he has a ton of minutes there, he lacks any kind of offensive or possession ability, and would have to be a pure defensive 4th liner (or play in that Engvall spot with no real expectations of scoring). Not sure the Leafs are overly enthused about that.
Haula would probably be the next best choice, and while he is not as good defensively or physically, he offers more offensively and is a better PKer. He also has the speed and playing style to keep up with that 3rd line and compliment them quite well.
Staal and Getzlaf would be nice additions, but I have a feeling that Getzlaf prefers to stay in ANA. Staal is not the best defensive player in the world so he wouldn't be the best fit for our 3rd line as currently configured, but would be solid in general and brings experience. I've got some concerns on his price requirements if he comes at 50% as well. I don't think this has happened before but I would just give Buffalo a bunch of mediocre quantity rather than anything of quality. Like I would just give them Engvall, a mid-tier prospect, and our 4th this year.
Nash is the textbook definition of a mediocre 4C. He is pricey on the cap too. However he is solid on the PK, doing well in possession, and has won draws this year. If he didn't require retention to acquire, I would have said we could have tossed a mediocre prospect to get him, but I don't think he is the right fit for us.
Brassard is the same. He did well on draws last year, but that looks more like an anomaly and he hasn't been a full time center for a while. He'd be a guy to split with Spezza on a 4th line, but I'd rather have Vesey and Engvall there.
Zajac is high on cap, not great, and I can almost guarantee that Lou is going to pay a 2nd to acquire him for the Islanders' run.