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5 Former Toronto Maple Leafs Who Could Return In Free Agency: Part 2

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 27: Tyler Ennis #63 and Patrick Marleau #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs chat prior to play resuming against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 27, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Oilers 6-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 27: Tyler Ennis #63 and Patrick Marleau #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs chat prior to play resuming against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 27, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Oilers 6-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 27: Tyler Ennis #63 and Patrick Marleau #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs chat prior to play resuming against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 27, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Oilers 6-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to need to get creative to stay under the salary next season, so what better way than bringing back a few former players?

This is the second edition of former Toronto Maple Leafs who could return in Free Agency. If you missed the last list, you can read it here.

As we talked about prior, the idea of a former Leafs player re-joining the team isn’t too far-fetched. In sports, reunions happen all the time because more often than not, leaving is not the player’s idea in the first place.

When the Leafs traded Nazem Kadri last summer, he was devastated. As a player who grew up in southern Ontario, the idea of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs was a dream come true. Then, after playing a decade for the team you idolized, they trade you away for a right-handed defenseman who was criticized all year.

I’m sure Kadri is incredibly happy in Colorado now, since his team made it farther than the Leafs, but deep-down, you have to think he would love to come back at some point. Winning a Cup in Toronto would be the greatest thrill in the world. Obviously winning a championship in any city would be an amazing accomplishment, but doing it in a city that’s starving for a title after a 50-plus year drought would be unbelievable.

Ask any player who’s help get the monkey off a city’s back like the Chiacgo Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Chicago Cubs or Boston Red Sox. You’re idolized in that city forever and the same would be said for any player who was part of a Stanley Cup winning team in Toronto.

Here is Part 2 of five former Leafs who could return in Free Agency.

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