5 Depth Free Agent Centres the Toronto Maple Leafs Could Target

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 04: Derick Brassard #10 of the New York Islanders skates against the Washington Capitals at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on October 04, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Capitals defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 04: Derick Brassard #10 of the New York Islanders skates against the Washington Capitals at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on October 04, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Capitals defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: Nate Thompson #44 of the Philadelphia Flyers . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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.