3 Important Free Agents the Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Lock Up
As we all know, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a handful of players set to become UFAs and RFAs this off-season, so who will they decide to resign?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have eight players on the main roster who are in need of a contract during the 2020 off-season.
Question is, who is going to resign and who is going to walk? Better yet who will the Toronto Maple Leafs want to bring back and who will they want to let walk?
Here are three players on the current main roster who I think the Toronto Maple Leafs should focus on and resign this off-season.
3. Travis Dermott – 23 years old – D
2019-20 stats – 56 GP – 4 G – 7 A – 11 PTS – CF% 50.00%
Career stats – 157 GP – 9 G – 32 – 41 PTS
At my number three spot I have young defensemen Travis Dermott. The reason why Dermott is number three on this list is mainly because of the uncertainty of the Toronto Maple Leafs blue line and if they see him sticking on the roster in the future, as their left side is already quite strong.
Dermott is a great skater who is working hard on his two way game as a defensemen, problem is the Maple Leafs have a ton of defensemen who can skate very well and they are mostly on the left side. Could trading away Travis Dermott to make room for a defensemen on the right side be part of the teams plan, or not?
As of right now if the team isn’t looking for a replacement in Dermott and they don’t want a RHD then resigning Travis Dermott is a must. Like I said he’s a great skater who is working on his two way game, and getting better every game. He has shown lots of growth from this past season, especially towards the end of the season before it was put on pause due to COVID-19.
He also sometimes brings that grit to his game that kind of gets under players skin. As well not the same grit a Kyle Clifford would bring to the ice, more like a low-key grit but not as often. (Stats from NHL.com)
2. Jason Spezza – 37 years old – C
2019-20 stats – 58 GP – 9 G – 16 A – 25 PTS – CF% 50.25%
Career stats – 1123 GP – 341 G – 599 A – 940 PTS
At my number two spot I have the veteran Jason Spezza, and man what a season he had in a limited role. The Toronto Maple Leafs need to bring back Spezza at all costs, no excuses.
He signed a one year contract in the 2019 offseason worth $700K and it was worth every single penny. I think if the Toronto Maple Leafs can bring him back for a similar contract they should definitely do it.
Even if his next contract is around $800K-$850K its still a great deal, but I doubt he’ll ask for a little raise as he knows about the teams cap situation and he truly believes he could potentially win a cup in Toronto or at least go far in the playoffs.
What Jason Spezza brings to this team is what Patrick Marleau brought and more, besides the great relationship between Marner, Matthews, and Marleau.
Spezza brings that veteran experience to the team given he has played in the NHL for 17 seasons, he also brings a great offensive side to his game as he was a beast back in Ottawa but obviously slowed down due to age, but put up 25 points in 58 games this year in a limited role on the fourth line.
He also is very good in the face-off dot winning 54.02% of his face-offs. Long story short despite his age he brings a lot to this team whether people see it or not and if they can bring him back for a one or two year deal for less than $900K they should one hundred percent do it. (Stats from NHL.com).
1. Ilya Mikheyev – 25 years old – LW/RW
2019-20 stats/career stats – 39 GP – 8 G – 15 A – 23 PTS – CF% 53.48%
At my number one and final spot I have the rookie, Ilya Mikheyev. Just like Jason Spezza the Toronto Maple Leafs need to lock up Mikheyev at all costs… but for long term instead of a one or two year deal. I think they should try and get a four year deal or more done for him if possible.
What a season this guy had this year, playing in the NHL for the first time in his career he looked like a vet despite being a rookie.
Mikeyev scored 23 points in 39 games playing on the second and third line most nights showing what he is truly capable of doing on NHL ice.
As we all know his season was cut short back in December due to a wrist injury in New Jersey, and if it wasn’t for his injury I truly think he would’ve hit the 50 point mark if he stayed on the second line or at least went back and forth from the second and third line.
Even though he has only been in Toronto for about a year now, his importance on this Maple Leafs team is huge. He can easily play up and down the lineup with anyone, he plays the penalty kill and is good at it with his stick reach, and speed, as well as he could potentially play the power play in the future as he has a high hockey IQ and can easily help set up goals on the power play and or even score some.
All in all the Toronto Maple Leafs should and need to lock up this guy for at least next season, he loves it here in Toronto and I know it’s only his first year in the NHL but I don’t think he’d rather be anywhere else than Toronto right now as the management side was tremendous towards him when he was injured and he also signed that deal with Campbells Canada! (Stats from NHL.com)
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Who do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs should resign out of the teams handful of players that need a contract, do you think that these three players are a must to be resigned?