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Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Players to Replace Kyle Clifford

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO,ON - DECEMBER 19: Matt Martin #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 19, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 8-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,ON - DECEMBER 19: Matt Martin #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 19, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 8-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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EDMONTON, AB – NOVEMBER 30: Matt Martin #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on November 30, 2017 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

Kyle Clifford is going to test free agency, which means the Toronto Maple Leafs need a new fourth-line left-winger.

The Toronto Maple Leafs search for a fourth-line left-winger begins today after it was announced that Kyle Clifford will be testing free agency. But don’t be alarmed Leafs Land, this is very positive news for your favourite team.

If you glanced the Leafs salary cap last season, you would have very happy about Clifford’s contract when the team acquired him from Los Angeles. However, you may not have realized that the Kings retained 50 percent of that deal to help Toronto out.

$800K compared to $1.6M is a huge difference for a fourth-line player. If Clifford were to sign with the Leafs for less than $1M, the contract would be worth it. However, the fact that he’s going to want more than that makes bringing him back pointless. Not only that, but if the Leafs re-signed him, they would have to upgrade their original 3rd round pick to a 2nd round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

I know there’s many hockey analysts that believe the tough-guy in hockey is dead. Although, I would prefer top-skill over toughness, I do think you need a little bit of sand-paper to be successful. As a player, it really helps to know that you have protection on the bench and a big fight or hit can help change momentum when you’re struggling.

In a perfect world, that person who can change a game with a hit or a fight should also be able to score. The Tampa Bay Lightning have that player in Pat Maroon, while the Dallas Stars also have a leader who can score, fight and hit, in Jamie Benn.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a limited amount of money to spend, so I wouldn’t expect them to bring in a fourth-line winger who has much notoriety. Instead, expect a young player on an Entry Level Contract or a veteran on a minimum deal to replace Clifford. Because at the end of the day, this person isn’t going to make much a difference in the Leafs winning a Stanley Cup.

Here are five potential players to replace Kyle Clifford.

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