Online Sportsbooks Overview
With the NHL trade deadline completed, the Leafs had made some interesting moves. Veteran defenseman Keith Aulie was traded toTampaBay for forward Carter Ashton. To fill in for Aulie, the Leafs later picked up defenseman Mark Fraser from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Dale Mitchell. But that really wasn’t a trade to replace Aulie because Fraser will spend most of the rest of this season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. So what didToronto accomplish on trade deadline day? They gave up two experienced players to get two prospects. It looks like the Leafs are building for the future, but that has fans wondering ifToronto is giving up on the rest of this season.
The price per head sports experts are fairly impressed with the trade deadline move that the Chicago Blackhawks made.Chicago gave up a couple of 2013 draft picks to get rugged defenseman Johnny Oduya from the Winnipeg Jets. In an ironic twist, Oduya adds defensive muscle that the Blackhawks lost when it allowed Dustin Byfuglein to go to the Jets a couple of years ago. With a badly needed roster upgrade on defense, the Blackhawks come intoToronto to try and grab two points thatChicago desperately needs to stay in the hunt for a Western Conference playoff spot.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs really thought it had the goaltending situation solved with the emergence of James Reimer. But as the March Madness odds keep on shifting around, the Leafs are taking a closer look at its goaltending situation and not liking what it sees.Toronto is in the top half of theNHL in goals scored and goals against. That is one of the reasons why the trade of Aulie is a little confusing. Aulie is anNHL veteran that is effective at keeping players out from in front of theToronto net. Without Aulie, the complexion of theToronto defense will be much more different. A team that is already having problems in goal and playing defense just created an even deeper problem for itself. What does not help is that the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the highest scoring teams in the league.
Chicago Blackhawks
The addition of Oduya shows that the Blackhawks acknowledge that it needs some strength on defense. While Oduya is just one player, he is a good start. A sportsbook review of theChicago situation in the Western Conference standings shows that the Blackhawks have climbed back into sixth place in the conference, butChicago has also lost its last three games in a row. Moving up to fifth place may be a challenge, but the Blackhawks only have a three-point lead for their playoff spot and need to get back on the winning track.
The Bottom Line
The Leafs depleted its roster a bit at the trade deadline and the Blackhawks improved its roster. Unfortunately for Toronto, the hit to its defensive corps is going to be keenly felt in this matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.