Unrestricted Free-Agents for Toronto Maple Leafs to Target
By James Tanner
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a great position.
Not only are the Toronto Maple Leafs a team that is stacked full of both young potential super-stars and star-level players currently in their prime, but they are going to have an incredible amount of cap space for next season.
Brown, Hyman, Zaitsev and Boyle all need new contracts for next season. All other important players are locked in. Even if it 10-12 million to sign or replace those players, the Leafs are still looking at over $20 million in available money, assuming players like Horton and Lupul are put on the long-term injured reserve and their salaries don’t count towards the cap. Projections have said anywhere from it staying the same to being around $75 million.
Toronto Maple Leafs: $20 Million to Spend
We can’t know what the Leafs RFAs will cost to resign, and we don’t know yet where the cap will be set, but let’s just assume for $20 million is available to improve the team. Where do you spend it?
Kevin Shattenkirk
He’s the best available and he’d be the Leafs best defenseman. But is he really worth $3 million more than Gardiner and Rielly? Do you really want him for the next two seasons so badly that you’d be willing to overpay him for five seasons after that?
I’d pass on Shattenkirk and look to get a quality six D over hitting one single home-run signing.
Joe Thornton:
He’s old, but he doesn’t skate fast and never has. He seems as good as he’s been for the last decade, which is pretty damn good. I think, however, that the Leafs are better off putting Nylander at centre than paying top dollar for an ancient centre, no matter how good he is.
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Karl Azner:
One of the NHL’s most overrated players. The only way the Leafs will sign him is if Dave Nonis gets his job back. Currently all Leafs defensemen are better.
Brian Boyle:
I became a huge fan of his since the Leafs traded for him. I think he is a must-sign for Toronto. But, as he’s fourth on this list, you might be starting to get an idea that the UFA pickings are pretty slim this summer.
Cody Franson:
Franson is a pretty good, highly underrated player. If the Leafs had him right now, he’d be their third best defenseman after Rielly and Gardiner. I’d sign him if the price was $3 million or less. He can’t hurt you, and he could really help. He loves Toronto and is just so incredibly underrated. Bring back Franson!!
Michael Stone:
He’s sort of like a cheaper, worse Dion Phaneuf. He’s got a cannon of a shot and he can hit guys. He doesn’t put up strong possession numbers or anything, but if you’re playing Hunwick and Polak, he’s an upgrade.
Conclusion:
The Leafs might have a lot of money to spend, but if they really want to spend it wisely, they might look into some trades. Given the right price – which is doubful due to everyone overpaying on UFA day – I’d sign Franson and Stone. Add in Zaitsev and that’s a decent right-side group. Way above average anyways. I’d bring back Boyle. Other than that, I’m out of the market, save for some interesting value players that may or may not be there when it’s time to bid.