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Who Should the Toronto Maple Leafs Pursue in Free Agency: Roundtable

By Wilbert Timmermans

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 3: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs steps onto the ice before the first period of the home opener against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 3, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 3: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs steps onto the ice before the first period of the home opener against the Montreal Canadiens at the Scotiabank Arena on October 3, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Shaun Filippelli

This Toronto Maple Leafs team has focused on building blocks of youth. It’s working and will continue to. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from adding some talented veteran experience into the mix.

Signing Jason Spezza the last offseason proved to be a successful experiment and he deserves to be re-signed, if under the same stipulations of a minimum salary and commitment. Spezza can keep playing to prove himself, with little risk to the team.

And now there’s another UFA that could be available, who Toronto should certainly consider. Coincidentally, he’s also 37 years old and was selected in the same 2001 draft when Spezza was picked 2nd overall.

There’s only one ranking better than that.

Ilya Kovalchuk was the 1st overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He could be a welcomed addition alongside Jason Spezza in a bottom-six role, as their experience demands respect and yet they continue to prove they have more left in them to give.

Both players are notably hard workers and bring a type of passion towards their hunger for winning that could prove to be the advantage this young Maple Leafs team needs.

It would require a very specific set of stipulations, which would need to be heavily in favour of the Toronto Maple Leafs, for this to make any sense. But I definitely think it’s a possibility.

For a short term contract and the right price, Toronto would benefit from allowing another proven veteran an opportunity to keep producing while helping this team win.

Read more on why I think the Toronto Maple Leafs should look at Ilya Kovalchuk as a viable option, in my expanded breakdown for Editor In Leaf.

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