Toronto Maple Leafs: Every Pending UFA in the Western Pacific Division
By Jeff Borsuk
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames will need to negotiate with several of their defensemen. Six of their ten blueliners have expiring contracts. Five of them will be unrestricted. The Flames will also have to figure out what to do about three other UFAs, two forwards and a goalie.
Cam Talbot
Cam Talbot is an excellent goaltender who appears to have become the backup to David Rittich in Calgary. Talbot has posted better numbers but Rittich is five years younger and has an extra year on his contract. This may mean that Talbot is set to seek out a starting role elsewhere in the NHL next season.
Though Talbot can return to the Flames as part of a strong goaltending tandem, he may have more interest in trying to get one last big payday and secure a starting role elsewhere. There could be one available for him somewhere in the league.
T.J. Brodie
T.J. Brodie is one of Calgary’s best defensemen.
He’s been a reliable player with the franchise for a decade. The Flames are the only team that Brodie has ever known in the NHL. He will have plenty of suitors if he chooses to seek employment elsewhere.
The Toronto Maple Leafs already tried to trade for him last year, but Kadri nixed the deal with his NTC. Expect the Leafs to pursue him if he reaches the open market.
Travis Hamonic
Brodie’s been paired with Travis Hamonic. Brodie plays on the left side and Hamonic the right. Like Brodie, Hamonic will be a UFA at season’s end. Together, the pairing earned $8,507,543 for the 2019-20 season. Brodie got $4,650,400 and Hamonic $3,857,143.
Eric Gustafsson
Eric Gustafsson was traded to the Flames from the Chicago Blackhawks on trade deadline day. In return, the Hawks got a third-round pick in 2020 Draft. Gustafsson is a puck-moving d-man who’s been better than half a point per game in his career. As a fifth defender, it’s a welcome production. When he hits free agency Gustafsson will be looked upon as a cheap option to add defensive depth for an NHL club.
Derek Forbort and Michael Stone
Derek Forbort and Michael Stone are two blueliners who split time between the flames and the AHL this season. Forbort has been limited by injuries and joined the Ontario Reign for a conditioning stint before getting recalled by the Flames. Forbort, like Gustafsson, was acquired by Calgary on trade deadline day.
Forbort, who is a stay at home defenseman, never fully got going after managing to only play five games with the Reign and another seven with the Flames. Forbort would be a fine addition to the Maple Leafs to play on a bottom pairing. Stone, however, would be a downgrade from all the defensemen Toronto already has.
Zac Rinaldo
The same can be said for the soon to be UFA left-winger Zac Rinaldo. He has bounced back and forth between NHL clubs and the minors. After playing 14 games for the Stockton Heat, Rinaldo saw action in 19 games for the Flames. He picked up five points in that time.
Tobias Rieder
Tobias Rieder is another pending UFA. He’s on his fourth team in three years and still trying to figure everything out. Earning league minimum, it’s not a very risky move if a team decides to offer Rieder a two-way contract next season.