5 Depth Free Agent Centres the Toronto Maple Leafs Could Target
With the Toronto Maple Leafs having some of their depth players set to become UFA’s this offseason, the fourth line is uncertain as of right now unless they do lock up some of those players.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have five of their depth players up for new contracts at the end of this season, and it is uncertain who will stay and who will walk.
What we do have a good read on though is who will more likely stay and who will more likely walk but then again, it is still uncertain and up to players and staff.
Here are five depth free agent centres the Toronto Maple Leafs could target if they don’t go ahead and re-sign guys like Jason Spezza, and Frederik Gauthier.
5. Alex Galchenyuk – 26 years old – C
2019-20 stats – 59 GP – 8 G – 16 A – 24 PTS – 46.79 CF% (PIT) – 54.67 CF% (MIN)
Career stats – 549 GP – 135 G – 185 A – 320 PTS
At my number five spot I have Alex Galchenyuk, and the reason why I have him at number five and not higher on this list is because he will probably be the most expensive player out of the other four.
He is currently on the last year of his deal making $4.9M, but may be interested in a cheap one-year deal to re-establish himself after injuries and trades derailed his career.
Alex Galchenyuk has bounced around the league, playing for Montreal, Arizona, Pittsburgh and Minnesota in the last two seasons. He started his career out with the Montreal Canadiens then got traded to Arizona in the max Domi deal, then got dealt to Pittsburgh in the Phil Kessel trade, then lastly got sent to Minnesota in the Jason Zucker trade deadline deal.
He’s 26 years old and has a ton of skill to his game, on a cheap deal he could potentially provide massive value.
4. Melker Karlsson – 29 years old – C/RW
2019-20 stats – 61 GP – 6 G – 6 A – 12 PTS – 45.57 CF%
Career stats – 396 GP – 60 G – 52 A – 112 PTS
At my number four spot I have the current San Jose Shark, Melker Karlsson. I really don’t see the Toronto Maple Leafs putting an effort out there and trying to sign Melker Karlsson in free agency but hey, you never know.
He will obviously be a lot cheaper than a guy like Alex Galchenyuk as Melker is currently making $2M on the last year of his current deal.
Karlsson has solidified himself as a fourth line player with the San Jose Sharks over the years, playing in six seasons and only putting up a career high of 24 points in his rookie year.
He isn’t a terrible player to pick up if you’re the Toronto Maple Leafs and you lose players like Spezza and Gauthier who can play that 4C, however there are better choices out there.
If Karlsson ends up in Toronto his role will be very limited as he’ll more than likely only play fourth line minutes with a team as stacked as the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their power play is already one of the best in the league, as well as their penalty kill as some great guys on it already. (Stats from NHL.com)
3. Nate Thompson – 35 years old – C
2019-20 stats – 70 GP – 4 G – 11 A – 15 PTS – 48.66 CF% (MTL) – 41.96 CF% (PHI)
Career stats – 767 GP – 62 G – 94 A – 156 PTS
At my number three spot I have the big guy, Nate Thompson.
Nate isn’t the kind of player who appears to fit into Kyle Dubas’ vision. He is really more of the kind of player a team would traditionally seek to replace someone like Frederik Gauthier. But would the Leafs?
Having a guy like Nate Thompson on the Toronto Maple Leafs would be nice for multiple reasons, such as his experience and veteran presence.
He also wouldn’t be expensive at all to sign, he is currently making $1M this year and if he returns to the NHL next season he will more than likely make less than a million dollars.
Lastly he has some size and physicality to his game, being on a fourth line with his presence would be nice to have on a skilled Maple Leafs team thats for sure. (Stats from NHL.com). The Leafs do seem to be more focused on skill, so unless they massively change their direction, Thompson seems unlikely.
2. Derick Brassard – 32 years old – C
2019-20 stats – 66 GP – 10 G – 22 A – 32 PTS – 45.59 CF%
Career stats – 852 GP – 186 G – 297 A – 483 PTS
At my number two spot I have the first year Islander, Derick Brassard.
Derick is in a similar position as Alex Galchenyuk in the sense that he has bounced from team to team during his NHL Career. Started out in Columbus, then went to the Rangers, then Ottawa, then Pittsburgh, got dealt to Florida and Colorado in the same season last year, then signed with the Islanders in free agency last summer.
Brassard is a skilled player that could fit into the Leafs vision of a fourth line player. He can play the power play and fill in on the second unit if the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t re-sign Spezza and other players.
Much like Spezza, he is a former offensively gifted player who could finish his career playing lower in the lineup.
He also wouldn’t be that expensive, just like Karlsson, and Thompson he would be around the $850K – $1M range in my opinion.
He is currently making $1.2M on his only year with the Islanders this year, so he has already started taking less and less money every season as he was making $5M on his last contract. (Stats from NHL.com)
1. Joe Thornton – 40 years old – C
2019-20 stats – 70 GP – 7 G – 24 A – 31 PTS – 52.96 CF%
Career stats – 1636 GP – 420 G – 1089 A – 1509 PTS
At my number one and final spot I have Jumbo Joe, Joe Thornton.
If there is anyone I would like the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign during the 2020 offseason, it would be Joe Thornton for many, many reasons.
Thornton has made himself one of the best playmakers of all time, so having him on this Toronto Maple Leafs team playing on that third or fourth line would be awesome. Even having him on the second power play unit would be a great addition.
It seems like the first power play unit has the playmakers but if you add a guy like Thornton on the second unit you get that veteran playmaking experience who can help out.
Joe’s already 40 years old and more than likely on his last contract where he makes more than $1M as he’s currently making $2M on this years contract. Question is, will he return to San Jose again, go somewhere else, or just retire in general?
If somehow the Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign Jason Spezza but let a guy like Frederik Gauthier and or Kyle Clifford walk then they should also pursue Joe Thornton. Imagine a fourth line of Spezza and Thornton the two veteran players who can still play despite their ages. (Stats from NHL.com)
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It will be interesting to see what the Toronto Maple Leafs decide to do.