SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 15: Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers and Mitch Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs battle behind the net during second period action at the BB&T Center on December 15, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
Toronto Maple Leafs: 10 Defenseman Not Named Pietrangelo to Pursue
TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 4: Dustin Byfuglien #33 of the Winnipeg Jets skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on November 4, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
#10. Dustin Byfuglien
Imagine a 6-foot-5, 260 pound right-handed defenseman who’s had multiple 20-goal seasons on the Leafs blue-line right now? Well, he’s an Unrestricted Free Agent and his name is Dustin Byfuglien.
The former Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman didn’t play last season which means one of two things: Either he’s out-of-shape or completely refreshed. Based on his past routine, I’d put my money on out of shape, but that doesn’t mean the Leafs shouldn’t take a crack at him.
It’s unsure if Byfuglien wants to return to hockey, but the Torotno Maple Leafs should be monitoring this situation closely. If ‘Big Buff’ wants to play one more season, he would be the perfect player in Toronto. With his size and ability to score and move the puck, he would change the whole landscape of the Leafs blue-line.
Like every player in the NHL, his contract is the biggest concern. Coming off a $7.6M cap-hit, there’s no way he’s going to get that same type of money in the open-market, but if he’s willing to take between $3-5M, the Leafs should jump on it. Byfuglien is a rare player with a very unique set of skills that is worth the risk, no matter what happens.
