Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have four pending UFAs on the active roster. Cap issues will help GM Kyle Dubas make determinations on what to do about building a roster with or without those players going forward.
Tyson Barrie
It is expected that the Leafs will not be able to afford Tyson Barrie once his contract expires.
Barrie had a rough start to the year but when Babcock left town Barrie was given more freedom to be creative on the ice. This allowed him to do what was successful for him with the Colorado Avalanche and jump into the rush.
When Keefe joined the Toronto Maple Leafs, Barrie’s offense was immediately sparked. This will help him secure the big-ticket contract that many speculate is coming the defenseman’s way once he hits the open market.
Jason Spezza
Jason Spezza, who will be a Hockey Hall of Fame hopeful, is also about to hit free agency. He has already made his intentions clear that he would like to return for another season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Playing on league minimum this year, he was an excellent addition as the team’s fourth-line center. Expect Spezza to claim the same role next season.
Cody Ceci
Cody Ceci has been expected to finish the season with another franchise but after the deadline passed the defenseman remained with the Leafs. He played well once he was given a more appropriate spot in the lineup and moved from the first to the third pairing. Ceci’s biggest problem all year was that he was tied to his $4.5 million one-year contract, which raised expectations on the defender to a level he could never reach.
Ceci will not earn anywhere near what he did this season. On a more affordable deal, the Leafs may be interested in bringing him back. If not, they shouldn’t find it too difficult to replace the 26-year-old.
Kyle Clifford
Dubas will also need to make a decision on whether to re-sign Kyle Clifford. The scrappy left-winger joined the Leafs as a part of the trade that also brought them backup goaltender Jack Campbell in a highly graded trade with the Los Angeles Kings.
In exchange for Clifford and Campbell Toronto had to give up Trevor Moore and a conditional third-round pick. One of the Conditions is that the pick would be upgraded to a second-round selection if Clifford re-signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.
This makes re-signing Clifford more costly. Dubas will need to evaluate whether he would prefer to find a different UFA to fill Clifford’s role instead.
Don’t forget to check back in tomorrow where every UFA in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division will be broken down.