Toronto Maple Leafs Top 10 UFA Targets 2020

#10 Tyler Toffoli

Tyler Toffoli is a player that Leafs fans were asking for before he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks mid-season. He is a versatile player who can play on either wing. Toffoli looked spectacular in Vancouver despite having to play hurt. In ten regular-season games, he had six goals and four assists. In the playoff bubble, he had two goals and two assists in four games.

Toffoli may now be comfortable in Vancouver and hinted that he may be interested in remaining there. As a Scarborough, Ontario native, who played his minor hockey for the Toronto Junior Canadiens, he may also be interested in playing in front of friends and family in Toronto.

#9 Alex Pietrangelo

Good chance that many would expect Alex Pietrangelo to be at the top of this list and not near the bottom. He may be the top available defenseman and would make a great fit in blue and white but he carries with him one giant problem, his fee for service.

Pietrangelo and the St. Louis Blues have already exchanged numbers and appear to be unable to reach a common AAV or contract structure. Pietrangelo has reportedly been offered a $7.7 AAV by the Blues despite the expectation that he could earn something in the same range as Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s deal, $8.25 million.

However, Pietrangelo apparently wants north of a $9 million AAV along with structured bonuses to protect him from a buyout. It’s also been reported that he is also looking to include a no-trade clause. As much the Leafs would love the blueliner on their team, it’s just too much to give Pietrangelo, especially for Toronto, a club already in possession of high paid players.

#8 Robin Lehner

The Toronto Maple Leafs have two quality goaltenders, which makes seeing one join Toronto as a UFA a little surprising. Robin Lehner makes this list after completing his contract with the Vegas Golden Knights because acquiring him could be a move with greater implications.

Lehner is two years younger than the Leafs starting goalie, Frederik Andersen. Both men happen to have very similar career numbers. Lehner has a 2.68 career goals-against average compared to Andersen’s 2.61. Lehner’s 0.918 save percentage is almost identical to Andersen’s 0.917.

The reason the Leafs would be interested in this acquisition is if they could get Lehner for less than what they’re paying Andersen, they can trade away their longtime stopper. This could get them some assets (not likely to be anything great thanks to a deep pool of free-agent goalies) and more importantly, more valuable cap space.