Toronto Maple Leafs: Contract Expectations of Pending Free Agents

Toronto Marlies UFAs

As for fringe NHL players and minor-league players who are becoming unrestricted free agents, the list is as follows:

• Kevin Gravel
• Miikka Salomaki
• Garrett Wilson
• Tyler Gaudet
• Matt Lorito

Nothing worth talking about here, players of this caliber are a dime a dozen. I don’t see any real upside to any of these guys, they likely all walk.

The Rest

Kasimir Kaskisuo’s contract is also ending. He’s in a unique situation that allows him to choose if he wants to become an unrestricted free agent, otherwise, his signing rights remain with the Leafs. The exact definition of his contract status is a Group 6 free agent.

The definition of a Group 6 UFA is: Players who have reached age 25, who have 3 accrued years of professional experience, and whose contracts have expired, but have played less than 80 NHL games played for skaters or 28 games played for goaltenders. So, right now, Kaskisuo’s fate is in his own hands.

Lastly, Both Nathan Horton and David Clarkson’s contracts will be coming off the books as well, leaving the Leafs with no contracts on Long Term Injury Reserve for the first time in several seasons.

Reports say the team is no longer interested in using that particular method of circumventing the salary cap, but I for one won’t be surprised if Marian Hossa’s contract finds its way into MLSE’s ledger.