Top 5 Free Agents the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Sign This Summer

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Wayne Simmonds #17 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 28, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

4. Justin Shultz

I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but the Toronto Maple Leafs could use a right-shot defenseman, and Shultz fits that mold well.

Despite being injury-prone over the last few seasons, Shultz is a top-four defenseman and comes with a winning background.

Shultz won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins and was a key defenseman during their 16-17 championship, so it’ll be good to have another winner on the blue-line to go along with Jake Muzzin’s resume.

3. Wayne Simmonds

If there’s a player in the NHL who has found himself in the wrong situation for the last two years, it’s Wayne Simmonds.

When Simmonds was with the Philadelphia Flyers, he was a great addition paired on a line with Claude Giroux, and showed that he can play top-six minutes with one of the best players in the league.

Unfortunately, Simmonds has massively declined, but on a league minimum contract it might be worth seeing if he has anything left in the tank.

Simmonds will never be a player that will carry a line, but can play the Zach Hyman type role and be incredibly effective, or could once upon a time.

Simmonds also just signed a 1-year deal to bet on himself and it’s gone terribly with only eight goals in 68 games, so it’s possible that the Leafs could get a bargain with him on another one or two year deal.

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