Toronto Maple Leafs: Let the Pending UFA Walk

Toronto Maple Leafs Management Should not Offer a Contract to any of their Pending Free Agents.

With the best regular season (by point totals) in Toronto Maple Leafs history coming to an end following game 7 against the Boston Bruins, management has some decisions to make.

The Leafs have 6 players set to become Free Agents on July 1st. None of which should be offered contracts by the team’s management. Not to say that these are bad players, but now is the time to start promoting some Marlies ready to be full time NHL players. In the salary cap era, being able to integrate cheap options is critical.

Players set to Hit Free Agency:

Leo Komarov: 74 GP 7 G 12 A 19 P

Komarov has been the Leafs lovable pest for the past four seasons, but now is the time to cut ties. Komarov offers very little in terms of offense, often struggling just to make a good play with the puck. An injury in the playoffs finally made Mike Babcock come to his senses and keep Andreas Johnsson in the lineup even when Komarov was healthy. Leo was a serviceable player in his role, but now the Leafs have better options going forward.

James Van Riemsdyk: 81 GP 36 G 18 A 54 P

JVR is going to be the toughest player for the Leafs to replace. Players who are lock to score 30 goals every year are hard to find. He also brings an element of size to the Leafs wing that they otherwise don’t really have. His net presence on the power play is another aspect of his game that the leafs will miss. In saying that, unless JVR takes a major hometown discount returning to the Leafs just isn’t possible. The Marner, Mathews and Nylander contracts are the priority.

Tyler Bozak: 81 GP 11 G 32 A 43 P

Bozak is the one guy I could see the Leafs bringing back if the price is right. Outside of John Tavares this free agent center class isn’t great, which could drive Bozak’s salary up once he hits the market. Coming off a down season Bozak might accept a cheap deal to come back, otherwise it is time for the Leafs to move on.

Roman Polak: 54 GP 2 G 10 A 12 P

Lets face it Mike Babcock absolutely loves Roman Polak. So much so that I am already preparing myself for the Leafs to sign him to another one year deal right before training camp starts. Polak take a lot of criticism for the things he struggles with, such as skating and making a tape to tape pass. The speed of the game eats Polak alive at times, but again, Mike Babcock loves him so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s back even though there are much better options out there.

Tomas Plekanec: 77 GP 6 G 20 A 26 P ( with TOR & MTL)

Plekanec’s time with the Leafs got off to a slow start. I think a lot of fans were thinking the Leafs were getting the 60 point guy from his early Montreal days when the trade was made. Plekanec play in the regular season was underwhelming, but the reason The Leafs went out and got him showed up in the Playoffs. Playing on a line with Mitch Marner and Patrick Marleau, Plekanec showed he can still be a good player. The feeling is that he wants to return to Montreal. The Leafs have some internal options that can fill his role. Fourth line center is a spot that teams can constantly change, no need to have a long term option there.

Plekanec, should he wish to return, should be signed. He gives the Leafs the rare fourth line centre who can be used against other team’s top lines, which gives the Leafs the ability to create nightmare matchups for the opposition.

Dominic Moore: 50 GP 6 G 6 A 12 P

Moore was brought in to be the fourth line center, and after splitting time with Eric Fehr to start the season, he won the job. It would be shocking if Moore is brought back after being a healthy scratch for long stretches of the season. Dominic Moore is a player that in a pinch can step in to fill a role occasionally. He is not a player the Leafs should have as a regular.

Next: Reviewing the Leafs Defense

The Toronto Maple Leafs depth is something that gets talked about frequently as a major strength. Now more than ever that strength will be tested. The salary cap requires that teams who want to be successful long term replace exiting players with cheaper, younger options from within. It will be interesting to see if the Leafs can manage that, but so far, t he outlook is good.