The Toronto Maple Leafs are getting close to the opening of NHL free agency. A UFA brings an opportunity to create a new look to next year’s squad.
The Toronto Maple Leafs ended the season on the outside of the playoffs looking in. There’s nothing more disappointing to a talented team than that. This should motivate Leafs brass to ensure that they do everything possible in the offseason to turn their group into a cup contender.
There are two ways to build a winning team. It can either be done through the draft or via free agency. Kyle Dubas recognized the importance of the former and swung a deal that gives the club a pick in the middle of the first round. Mock drafts predict that whoever the Leafs draft in that spot won’t be NHL ready by next season.
This means that, with the exception of trading away future assets, Toronto should take a swing at scoring free agents that meet their needs. While they will most certainly acquire free agents to play at the bottom of their lineup, they will also look to find impactful players to play meaningful minutes.
The biggest hurdle for the Toronto Maple Leafs is the team’s cap space. Any significant signing will likely require a trade to give the franchise more financial breathing room. Currently, according to CapFriendly, Toronto has $6,106,467 in remaining cap space. They still have four restricted free agents left to sign along with four unrestricted free agents coming off the books. Being so close to the cap, ensuring the Leafs don’t overspend on a UFA is incredibly important.
These are the top ten UFAs the Toronto Maple Leafs should target this offseason: