The Toronto Maple Leafs made a frenzy of deals to open the offseason. We will evaluate all the moves the team executed in the busy month of July.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Kyle Dubas had their work cut out for them once the season ended and free agency began. The management team was very active in their attempts to make the squad a Stanley Cup competitor.
As the Stanley Cup was won, attention turned to the 2019-2020 season. In order to scrutinize the offseason effectively, we will break down each of the team’s transactions in the month of July and assign a corresponding grade.
Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson
We will begin with a pair of wingers that re-signed. Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson. The Leafs agreed to a deal in principle and then took a few days to make the contracts official. Though this happened before the start of July, we will assess the move due to its importance.
Kapanen is now on the books for the next three season for an annual average salary of $3.2 million. Johnsson negotiated an extra year of term to earn a slightly higher AAV. He will be paid an average of $3.4 each year.
Getting those deals done were an excellent way to kick off the offseason. They are two young and important members of the rosters thanks to their speed and hands. This is a great deal for the club. The Leafs not only get two solid contributors, but they keep them at a reasonable price.
With the Leafs sure to be up against the cap for the foreseeable future, keeping players AAV low is as much a priority as it is to retain quality players. In the case of Kapanen and Johnsson, they did both.
Grade: A+