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Toronto Maple Leafs: 10 Defenseman Not Named Pietrangelo to Pursue

By Stephen Nixon

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)
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) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 10: Kevin Shattenkirk #22 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 10, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Lightning defeated the Maple Leafs 7-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

4. Kevin Shattenkirk

If we made this list in June, 2017, Shattenkirk would have been number-one. The right-handed defenseman signed a four-year $26.6M contract with the New York Rangers that off-season, but it didn’t work out according to plan. Two years after signing the deal, the Rangers bought him out.

Currently making $1.75M on a one-year contract, Shattenkirk has played himself into a significant raise for next season, but it may not be with Tampa Bay. The Lightning are tight to the salary cap and already have big money invested into two defensemen and a number-one goalie, so don’t expect him to get a raise in Tampa Bay.

Based on Shattenkirk’s style of game, he would be a great fit in Toronto. The offensive defenseman had eight goals and 34 points in the regular season and has chipped in 10 points in 21 playoff games. He’s proving that he can be a reliable second-pairing defenseman and someone who can still quarterback a power-play.

If the Leafs don’t re-sign Tyson Barrie, Shattenkirk would be a perfect replacement for him and someone who should be able to fit into the Leafs system very easily.

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