Toronto Maple Leafs: Every Pending UFA in the Central Division

Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators have six pending UFAs a few of them are big names in the league.

Mikael Granlund

Mikael Granlund is coming off a contract that carries a $5.75 million AAV. He spent the last season and a half with the Predators after previously being with the Wild for six and a half years. Granlund recorded 30 points this season, which for him is a down year. It’s his lowest point total since his rookie year.

Granlund will be able to demand a hefty contract next season but based on his down year, he’ll have trouble getting comparable money to what he’s currently earning.

Craig Smith

Like Granlund, Craig Smith was known as a point producer throughout his career. Now, at 30 years old and a nine-year veteran, he managed to collect 18 goals and 13 assists this season. Smith could be a good fit to center a team’s second line next season or he could resume playing in the spot that hits him best, on the right side of a squad’s third-line.

Dan Hamhuis

There was a time in Dan Hamhuis‘s career while he was playing with the Vancouver Canucks where he was considered one of the best defensemen in the league. That was several years ago when he was in his late 20s.

Hamhuis is now 37 years old and no longer has the same first step. It’s hampered his ability but he’s done a good job adjusting his style to adapt. It’s worked for Hamhuis who has become a more cautious player. He would be a great fit as a veteran among the Maple Leafs young defensemen next season.

Yannick Weber

Yannick Weber has never been the sort of defenseman to lead the rush. He will, on occasion, jump up into the play and add some offense but he has made his money in the NHL as a stay-at-home defender. At 31 years old, Weber is now looking for his next contract even if it means he plays as a bottom pairing player.

Korbinian Holzer

A bottom pairing defenseman with the Predators is Korbinian Holzer. He’s a well-known name in Toronto thanks to the five seasons he spent playing in the city. In that time, he competed primarily for the Toronto Marlies but Holzer was given opportunities with the Maple Leafs.

After playing 267 games for the Marlies and 58 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Holzer only had to suit up for a total of 30 more AHL games in his career. In that same span, he played in 148 NHL contests. Holzer spent the majority of this season with the Ducks and was traded to Nashville for Matt Irwin and a sixth-round pick.

Colin Blackwell

Another AHL regular on the Preds roster is forward Colin Blackwell. He was drafted near the end of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Blackwell has had to fight hard to get his shot at the NHL level and has primarily played in the American League.

This season Blackwell played 26 games for the Milwaukee Admirals where he recorded six goals and 17 helpers. He also joined the Predators for 27 contests where he scored three goals and seven assists.