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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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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO,ON – DECEMBER 19: Matt Martin #15 of the Toronto Maple Leaf . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

#3. Matt Martin

Besides maybe Patrick Marleau, there’s no other player the Leafs would love to have back in their dressing room than Matt Martin. Although he was a healthy-scratch for a number of games in his second season in Toronto, he would be a great fit on this current roster.

Everyone already knows the friendship that Martin and Mitch Marner have and that bond goes a long way in the dressing room. When you’re battling every single night, you need to love your teammates, and by all accounts, everyone loves Martin. He’s always been a great teammate and is someone you can count on to get in a fight and spark the team. Even during the Islanders current playoff run, he’s turned into a goal-scorer with five goals so far.

Getting Martin back to Toronto seems far-fetch though, unfortunately. Although he’s bound for a salary decrease from his current $2.5M annual salary, it’s hard to see that number fall to $1M or under, which is what would need to happen for Toronto to sign him.

Martin has played the majority of his career in New York and has played his best hockey there, so returning to Toronto may be out of the question. Regardless, the Leafs should definitely call him and see his price, because he would be a fun player to have back in Toronto next year.

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