Toronto Maple Leafs Top 10 UFA Targets 2020

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:

#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.

#7 Sami Vatanen

Sami Vatanen is a right-handed defenseman who was a desirable acquisition this past season for Toronto and that hasn’t changed. With nine years of NHL experience, the 29-year-old has a lot to offer the Leafs blueline. They may not have swung a deal for him at the trade deadline, but now they have another chance to get him.

Vatanen is a possession specialist who moves the puck well. He has the ability to find his teammates in stride and doesn’t force the action if the right play isn’t available. Vatanen is a high IQ player with offensive ability. He would be a solid addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs powerplay.

Vatanen appears to be a player that would be an excellent fit in Sheldon Keefe’s system. And with a young group of defensemen, the Fin would be a valuable veteran voice to help mentor the other skaters in the dressing room.

#6 Evgeny Dadonov

Evgeny Dadonov is a sniper playing right-wing. After five years in the KHL, Dadonov returned to the NHL to rip pucks past goaltenders. Playing three years for the Florida Panthers, Dadonov recorded 28 goals and 37 assists in his first year with the club. He followed that up by scoring 28 again and adding 42 assists. In this shortened season, Dadonov still managed to put in 25 goals along with 22 assists.

Natural goal scorers are always valuable in the NHL. A talent like Dadonov’s would be sought after by the Leafs GM. It wouldn’t be surprising if Dubas made a pitch to Dadonov’s representatives to see if he could get the Russian in the big smoke on a reasonable contract.

#5 Mike Hoffman

Another UFA who could potentially be leaving the Panthers is Mike Hoffman. Much like Dadonov, his former teammate, Hoffman is a sharpshooter. In fact, during Hoffman’s time in Florida, the 30-year-old left-winger has managed to score more goals than Dadonov.

In 2018-19 Hoffman played a full 82 game schedule. He potted 36 goals and 34 assists in that campaign. He then followed it up by recording 29 goals and 30 assists in 69 games. Those stats don’t just prove that Hoffman is a point producing stallion, but also an incredibly durable one.

With players like Auston Matthews and John Tavares already on the team, adding another sniper makes defending against Toronto even more difficult. Hoffman might command over $6 million AAV on his new deal, which if true would certainly mean the Leafs would have to look elsewhere.

#4 T.J. Brodie

The Calgary Flames are about to see two of their valuable defensemen hit the open market. They are Travis Hamonic and T.J. Brodie. There’s a good chance that Flames GM Brad Treliving will do what he can to bring both men back, but like the Leafs, the salary cap may not allow for it.

Brodie is the better player of the pair and is also more sure-handed with the puck. His advance stats are excellent. Brodie has shown that his puck possession has made an impact on the game. This season, he had a Corsi rating of 52.4 at even strength which was 3.6 better relative to his club.

#3 Taylor Hall

The Arizona Coyotes are in danger of losing their very talented left-winger, Taylor Hall. He is one of the biggest prizes of the current free-agent class. Landing him in Toronto would be an incredible boost to the team.

The former first overall draft pick hasn’t enjoyed the team success he’d like. In fact, over his ten year career, he’s only been to the playoffs twice. This season, while earning six million for the year, Hall played in 65 games where he collected 16 goals and 36 assists.

Turning 29 in November, Hall may not get the same money he’s earned earlier in career. If true, this could make him a potential acquisition for the Leafs. However, early projections have him joining either the Montreal Canadiens or Colorado Avalanche.

#2 Torey Krug

Largely seen as an enemy, playing for the big bad Boston Bruins, Torey Krug would be an excellent addition to the Maple Leafs’ blueline. The offensive defenseman has spent his entire nine year career in Beantown.

Now a UFA, Krug could be looking for a new team to call his own. The Maple Leafs would be a good host to the player who has been an advanced stat monster. This season, at even strength, Krug had a Corsi rating of 55.6, which was 6.3 better than his team. He also recorded an impressive nine goals and 40 assists in 61 games. That’s all while playing an average of 20:29 minutes per game.

Krug is looking for a long-term deal that pays him well. Unless the money he’s looking for is outrageous, the Leafs should consider making an offer.