The Toronto Maple Leafs currently sit at 48 contracts – two shy of the 50 contract maximum for the NHL.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs want some reprieve from their current situation on the number of contracts they have, they’ll need to find a partner – or partners – with room to handle a few extra.
Teams aren’t going to take on a few extra contracts if they can’t do it comfortably. By comfortably, I mean still having flexibility themselves. No one will take on trial players and hamstring themselves in the process.
The Leafs are one of six teams with at least 48 players under contract – so that removes 20% of the NHL as trading partners for this particular purpose.
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There are, however, five teams who only have 42/43 contracts on their books right now who could be destinations for Toronto’s excess without hindering their flexibility moving forward.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres have 42 players under contract, well under the 50-limit max. Conveniently, they’re also still in the rebuilding stages so there’s a chance they may be interested in adding a few prospects in a low-risk gamble.
The Sabres have a good foundation of top-end forward talent but the search for quality young depth is always on everyone’s radar.
Calgary Flames
As much as people want to believe Brian Burke has zero say as to what Brad Treliving does, that’s a dream. Burke has a hand in everything, that’s just the way he is. Fortunately, he would have good things to say on some players the Leafs can get rid of.
The Flames, like the Sabres, have 42 players under contract – though that number will move to 43 when Johnny Gaudreau signs his new massive deal.
The Flames could be a good dumping spot for players like Byron Froese, Rinat Valiev and Antoine Bibeau.
New York Islanders
The Toronto Maple Leafs have recent history with the Islanders and pawning prospect contracts off. Maybe the Isles are interested in more projects?
Some of the players didn’t work out for New York the last time around, but there’s more players where those five came from. The Isles have 43 players currently under contract.
Ilya Sorokin would be an amazing get for the Leafs if they could pry him from the Islanders grips, though he’s likely not for sale. Not, at least, if the Islanders have half a brain.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Hawks have 43 players under contract and they are always looking for cheap players with potential to play depth roles in their lineup.
The Kane/Toews contracts, on top of other high paid players, make contracts around league minimum of much more interest to the Blackhawks.
A deal with the Hawks would likely be a 2-for-1 deal, and wouldn’t bring back anything of significance – but it would lessen the contract total by one.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are aging and feature a bunch of ‘meh’ prospects in their system. They also have 43 players under contract.
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It definitely wouldn’t hurt the Sharks to take a chance on some teams prospects who don’t fit their current team systems.
No skater position is off the table for the San Jose Sharks and the Leafs have recent history with them in the trade market as well.