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Toronto Maple Leafs: An Early Look at Potential 2020 Free Agency Targets

By Matthew Rodrigopulle

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 30: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is congratulated by teammate Zach Hyman #11 after scoring the over time winner against the Buffalo Sabres at the Scotiabank Arena on November 30, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 30: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is congratulated by teammate Zach Hyman #11 after scoring the over time winner against the Buffalo Sabres at the Scotiabank Arena on November 30, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 27: St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (27) skates in the 1st period of the NHL game between the Saint Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning on November 27, 2019 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 27: St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (27) skates in the 1st period of the NHL game between the Saint Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning on November 27, 2019 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues, Defenseman

2019-20 stats: 29 GP, 6 G, 14 A

Let’s start it off with a bang. The Leafs are lacking defense, that’s common knowledge. To top things off, five out of their seven current defensemen will all be UFA’s at the end of this season–everyone except Morgan Rielly and Travis Dermott (who will be an RFA).

Defence will be the position that the Toronto Maple Leafs will need to find replacements for. Cody Ceci will most likely be passed on, but whether or not they resign Tyson Barrie and Jake Muzzin, who will both surely ask for raises, the Leafs will need to look for replacements on the UFA market.

Now let’s say Barrie asks for $7 million or more. Coupled with an expensive asking price by Muzzin, the Leafs could consider passing on both defensemen and signing a proven first pairing defenseman.

This is where Alex Pietrangelo fits in. The Toronto Maple Leafs could look to bolster their star power on the blue line by signing him–a proven star right-handed defenseman–however his asking price will surely be expensive causing some current defensemen to be passed on.

Adding a defenseman of Pietrangelo’s calibre isn’t an opportunity that comes by often. Making a big splash in free agency, like the Leafs did with John Tavares in 2018, could be one thing the Leafs want to do.

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