Jeff Marek put Roman Josi's name on the table Wednesday, and now it's not going away.
When Nick Alberga asked Marek who he'd be calling right now if he were Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka, the answer came fast: Josi.
Not a rumor. Not a report. Marek was clear it was just his thought. But when a voice that plugged-in drops a name that specific, you don't ignore it.
Josi finished this season at 55 points in 68 games, 13 goals and 42 assists, with 20 power play assists and a -15 rating on a Nashville club that ranked 24th overall and went 38-34-10.
The Predators were a mess this year. A -22 goal differential. A 4-5-1 record over their last 10. Barry Trotz is the GM trying to rebuild a roster that simply ran out of time around its best player.
That best player turns 36 this summer and carries a $9.059 million cap hit.
What Josi would actually solve in Toronto
The Leafs were 28th in the league this season. A -46 goal differential. They went 32-36-14 and closed the year on a 7-game losing streak, going 2-7-1 in their last 10.
That back end needs a complete overhaul, not a patch job. Adding an elite, puck-moving defenseman who can anchor a top power play unit is exactly the kind of move that can change the identity of a blue line overnight.
Josi still produced at a point-per-game clip over his last 5, with a goal and 5 assists and a +3 rating. He was not the problem in Nashville.
But here's the thing: $9 million for a 36-year-old defenseman, no matter how good, is a serious commitment for a team that just had one of the worst seasons in franchise history. Toronto can't just add payroll and hope the culture fixes itself.
The Leafs allowed 299 goals this season. That's not a one-player fix.
Marek's point is still valid, though. If you're going to swing, swing for something real. Josi is a generational talent at the position, and Nashville's direction this offseason remains genuinely unclear.
Whether Chayka is actually making that call is another question entirely.
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Marek leans forward slightly in the clip, almost like he can't believe no one's said it out loud yet. His delivery is calm and direct. Just a name. Roman Josi.
The conversation around Toronto's defensive rebuild just got a lot more interesting.
Should the Maple Leafs pursue Roman Josi this offseason?
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