Toronto Maple Leafs: Every Pending UFA in the Metropolitan Division
By Jeff Borsuk
New York Islanders
Thomas Greiss
The New York Islanders have five pending UFAs on their roster. One of which is their backup goalie, Thomas Greiss. He was the William M. Jennings Trophy co-winner in 2019 for being on the team that allowed the fewest goals against.
Now having completed five seasons with the Islanders, Greiss may need to begin looking for a new home. At age 34 he is coming off a 16-9-4 season where he posted a save percentage of 0.913 and a goals-against-average of 2.74.
Matt Martin
On July 1, 2016, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed UFA Matt Martin to a four year $10 million contract. In 2018 they flipped him to the Islanders for Eamon McAdam. Now, the former Leaf is about to become a free agent once again.
Martin joined the Toronto Maple Leafs with the reputation for throwing big body checks on mass. This season with the Islanders he was still flying around the ice being physical. In 55 games he threw 242 hits. He also managed to add five goals and three assists.
Derick Brassard
Martin’s fourth-line center also showed physicality in his game this season. Derick Brassard added more grit to his game to fit in nicely with his linemates Martin and Cal Clutterbuck. With Brassard being the most talented of the trio and his contract expiring in the offseason, his services should be in demand.
Tom Kühnhackl
Tom Kühnhackl is the only other UFA forward with New York. He played four games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and 28 games for the Islanders. Without a consistent role in the NHL and only managing to post six points in the NHL this season, Kühnhackl will likely be searching out a two-way contract in the offseason.
Andy Greene
The only defenseman to hit the open market with the Islanders is 37-year-old Andy Greene. He was moved to New York from the Devils ahead of the trade deadline in exchange for a second-round pick and David Quenneville.
Between both clubs, Greene played a total of 63 games and scored two goals while adding 12 helpers.
He averaged 20:07 minutes of ice time in New Jersey and 16:32 minutes in his ten games with the Islanders. It’s unclear whether GM Lou Lamoriello plans to try and re-sign the veteran since head coach Barry Trotz wasn’t utilizing the player to the same extent as when he was a Devil.