Top 5 Bargain Unrestricted Free Agents the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Sign
Tight to the salary cap, the Toronto Maple Leafs will need to find UFA’s on the cheap this off-season.
With a number of pending RFA’s and UFA’s on the Toronto Maple Leafs current roster, the team has some spots to fill.
As any Leafs fan knows, the team is top-heavy with their forwards, so cheap depth is necessary for this team to succeed.
The Leafs did a great job last year in finding depth for cheap when they signed Jason Spezza to a one-year $700,000 contract.
Spezza has proved that he can play third-line centre on the Leafs, but is better suited as a fourth-line centre and is a valuable veteran in the dressing room.
In order for the Leafs to be successful, they will need to have at least two contracts like Spezza’s on their bottom six every year.
Being able to find veteran players to take close to the league minimum salary will be incredibly beneficial to the Leafs, as it’ll give them a legitimate chance at a Stanley Cup.
Here are five bargain UFA’s the Leafs should target:
#1. Jason Spezza
The same person the Toronto Maple Leafs found gold with last off-season is the same one they should go after this year.
in 58 games played this year, Spezza already eclipsed his goal totals from his previous two seasons and was showing Leafs Nation that he still has something left in the tank.
In terms of a bargain, there’s no better bargain than league minimum.
Spezza has shown that he’s worth far more than the league minimum, but playing in his hometown is something money can’t buy.
Having made $88 million in his career, it would be a wise choice for both sides to see Spezza return to Toronto and get another crack at bringing a Stanley Cup home.
#2. Alex Galchenyuk
Playing on his fourth team in three years, Galchenyuk could use some stability.
His contract has been a true reason why he hasn’t been able to secure a home-base. At $4.9 million per season, he’s making too much money and not giving teams enough in return, so it’s made him an easy trade-chip.
However, if Galchenyuk were smart and believed in himself, he should sign a low one-year deal for the 2020-21 season as a try-out on a good team, like Toronto.
Teams always hoped that Galchenyuk would transition into a centre, but left-wing has been a better fit for him, which is perfect as that’s Toronto’s weakest forward position.
Galchenyuk could slide perfectly into the second-line left-winger slot and play on a line with either Auston Matthews or John Tavares and quite possibly find that 30-goal season he previously had in Montreal.
If the price is right, Galchenyuk would be a great addition.
#3. Trevor Daley
Trevor Daley may not have scored a goal this year, but he’s playing on the worst team in hockey so there’s a lot to be said there.
Similar to Spezza, bringing in Daley would mean the opportunity to have another Toronto kid play for the Leafs in front of his hometown friends and family.
The ability to do this is so valuable, because it brings a new life to a player that was in a tough situation before.
It was only a few years ago where Daley had a 56.5 Corsi Rating and was scoring double-digit goals with the Dallas Stars, so it’s plausible that he can turn back the clock and relive some previous success with Toronto.
At 36-years-old and coming off his worst season in his career, you’d have to think that you’d be able to get Daley for $2 million or less and hope that he’d be willing to take a home-town discount to be a bottom-pairing defenseman in Toronto.
#4. Ryan Reaves
You may only know Reaves as a fighter, but he’s actually a very reliable fourth-line player.
With a 54.8 Corsi Rating over the last two seasons, Reaves is your modern-day tough guy. He can fight anyone else in the league, but can also contribute to the overall success of the team.
You’re not going to rely on Reaves to score every night, but you’re also not going to have to bench him late in the third period in a big game. He’s shown that he can be very steady, which is all you can ask for someone like this.
Although Reaves is a good player in his role, he’s still making way too much money. His current contract pays him $2.75 million, which about $1.25 million too much.
Reaves is a very similar player to Kyle Clifford, who currently makes $1.6 million per season, and you could argue that Clifford is actually more valuable offensively.
As a result, if the Leafs were able to strike a deal with Reaves and get him for closer to a million, he’d be a great replacement player for Clifford if they don’t re-sign him or a complimentary player to him as well.
#5. Ron Hainsey
Could the Leafs bring back Ron Hainsey?
He was over-matched when Babcock played him on the top pairing, but would do well in a much reduced role if the price was right.
Sure, this isn’t the sexiest player to bring back, but Hainsey would fit well as a bottom-pair defenseman and leader in the dressing room.
With the addition of Jake Muzzin and potential of Rasmus Sandin, Hainsey’s role would not have to be as large as it was when he previously played in Toronto.
Hainsey could be the stay-at-home defenseman and mentor to Sandin which would be very beneficial to his development.
In order for the great skating defenseman on the Leafs like Travis Dermott, Rielly and Sandin to flourish, it helps to compliment them with a defenseman opposite to their skill-set and that’s where Hainsey can add value.
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Also, although he’s currently making $3.5 million this year on a one-year contract, with another year closer to retirement in a place where he remembers fondly, it may be possible for the Toronto Maple Leafs to get him for closer to a million on a bargain.