1. Alex Pietrangelo
Let’s get the expensive option out of the way first. It’s not a surprise that Alex Pietrangelo is on this list.
He’s the most coveted free agent defenseman this year. He’s right-handed, a Stanley Cup champion, an Ontario boy, and most importantly, a top-pairing defenseman for a contending team. He’d be the perfect choice for the Leafs, right?
If only it were that easy. Pietrangelo will be an expensive free agent pickup this summer, where he’ll possibly be asking for up to $9 or $10 million in AAV, if not more.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are already in a cap crunch, but with contracts coming off the books, as mentioned before, the Leafs may begin to have some wiggle room.
Regardless, the Leafs will still be a few millions short of reaching that high asking price that Pietrangelo will likely demand.
Whether or not the Leafs can afford him will ultimately be up to GM Kyle Dubas. I personally don’t think the Leafs can afford him nor should they even try to sign him, given their cap crunch, but if they can somehow come to terms on a more affordable deal, I wouldn’t say no.