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Should the Toronto Maple Leafs Re-Sign Kyle Clifford?

By Reuben Gasee

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 7: Kyle Clifford #73 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to action against the Anaheim Ducks in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 7, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 7: Kyle Clifford #73 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to action against the Anaheim Ducks in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 7, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Should the Toronto Maple Leafs attempt to bring back Clifford or let him walk?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have some big decisions to make this offseason. One of those decisions involve how to manipulate the salary cap in order to ice an improved roster. Ways to do this include potential trades, free agent signings and whether to attempt to re-sign players that were apart of the team last season.

While players like Ilya Mikheyev and Travis Dermott are apart of the team but are in need of new contracts cause of restricted free agency, others like Jason Spezza, Cody Ceci, Tyson Barrie and Kyle Clifford are free to sign with any team they wish.

It’s unlikely the Leafs attempt to bring back Barrie or Ceci but what about Clifford? Is he someone the Leafs should attempt to re-sign?

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Kyle Clifford

Yesterday, news broke that the fourth liner would test free-agency, but that doesn’t necessarily preclude the Leafs from signing him.

Clifford was acquired along with Jack Campbell from the Los Angeles Kings days before the trade deadline. This trade was a necessary acquisition as both players were needed on the Leafs. Campbell gave the Leafs a solid backup goalie, while Clifford had a history of putting up some of the best numbers for a fourth liner in the NHL.

In 16 games in a Maple Leafs jersey, he had three points, but perhaps didn’t live up to the lofty expectations that came with him.  Once the Stanley Cup is awarded though, Clifford will no longer be an employee of the team. The Toronto Maple Leafs should do what they can to bring him back at a reasonable price.

Clifford made $1.6 million last season, and will surely be looking for a raise. As the Leafs are in need of a player like Clifford, they should at least have interest in signing him.

The Leafs should attempt to sign him to a multi-year contract.  The Leafs could attempt to give him a two or three year deal for $1.25 million a year, the same amount that Pierre Engvall is set to make on an annual basis.

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One thing to note is that if Toronto re-signs him, the conditional 2021 third round pick the Leafs sent to the Kings will become a second rounder. While this could be viewed as trading a second-round pick for Clifford, it would be worth it as the pick would likely be near the end of the round and Clifford is needed on the team.

The Toronto Maple Leafs should definitely re-sign Clifford.

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