3 Cheap Free Agents the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Sign
The NHL off-season is creeping in and the Toronto Maple Leafs have some decisions to make, either through trades or through free agency.
With less than a week left until free agency opens up for the Toronto Maple Leafs rumours are swirling around the league.
Though the Leafs and their fans may dream of adding Alex Pietrangelo, it is a longshot, at best. The Leafs are up against the cap and still have their own restricted free agents to sign. This means that they will no doubt be looking for bargains in the form of cheap free agents.
If the Leafs hope to succeed, they will again need to strike gold in the bargain bin of the UFA market, much like they did last year when they brought in Jason Spezza, who had an excellent season.
3. Wayne Simmonds – 32 years old – RW
2019-20 stats – 68 GP – 8 G – 17 A – 25 PTS
Career stats – 909 GP – 251 G – 248 A – 499 PTS
It’s possible everyone has probably heard what Simmonds said to Pierre LeBrun a couple of weeks ago about potentially being interested in playing in Toronto and by the sound of that interview he isn’t counting out playing here at all.
Simmonds, who is from the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) has had quite the NHL career, he isn’t your typical superstar that will fill the net with pucks and will top 70 points every season. However he has had a couple of great seasons and plays a style of hockey that is valuable to an NHL team. Throughout his career he has had two 30 goal seasons along with four 50 point seasons, and hitting the 60 point mark twice.
Although Simmonds production has taken a massive decline on the offensive and defensive side of things in recent years I don’t think it would be a terrible thing if he signs with Toronto for less than $1M AAV. He wouldn’t be coming to Toronto to score ta ton of goals anyways, but if he could chip in on the fourth line and play the style of hockey he is known to play that could definitely benefit him and obviously the Toronto Maple Leafs down the road. (Stats from NHL.com).
2. Mikko Koivu – 37 years old – C
2019-20 stats – 55 GP – 4 G – 17 A – 21 PTS
Career stats – 1028 GP – 205 G – 504 A – 709 PTS
Koivu, who recently was told he wouldn’t be offered a contract extension from the Minnesota Wild this off-season, will hit the free agent market on October 9th along with a ton of other players. Koivu has played in over 1000 NHL games throughout his career is still a decent top 9 player on any given team, in my opinion.
He has had seven 50 point seasons with hitting the 60 point mark twice and the 70 point mark once. He was never known as a superstar but he is a reliable player who will chip in on the offensive side of things and is also a great defensive player as well.
The Leafs seem like a team who could use a defensive specialist, and Koivu fits the bill. Despite his age and lack of offense, Koivu is still a useful player who remains among the NHL’s best defensive players. As an former captain, his presence couldn’t hurt the young Toronto Maple Leafs, and he most likely would be available at a decent cap hit.
If the Leafs can’t get a deal done with Jason Spezza, Koivu would be a very nice alternative. In fact, even if they do bring back Spezza, Mikko Koivu would be an excellent depth addition to their team.
1. Jason Spezza – 37 years old – C
2019-20 stats – 58 GP – 9 G – 16 A – 25 PTS
Career stats – 1123 GP – 341 G – 599 A – 940 PTS
Coming in at number-one is someone who the Leafs and Leaf fans are very familiar with:Jason Spezza.
Spezza is number one on this list for more than one reason, first reason is the Toronto Maple Leafs know very well who Spezza is if they go the route of re-signing him as obviously he played for them during the 2019-20 NHL season and he was great too.
Just like Mikko Koivu he is a centre who is in their late 30s however still playing relatively good hockey despite their age. Spezza returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs at a similar price tag of his deal this past season would be the best thing for both sides, something around one or two years at league minimum or a bit higher than league minimum would be ideal. I don’t think money is the issue for Spezza, but money is the issue for Toronto and every other team in the NHL so locking him up for less is the best thing to do.
You know what you will be getting from Spezza, which is an above average fourth liner with excellent power play abilities. He can play on the power play and put up around 20-30 points while being limited to fourth line minutes, he’s a great locker room guy as well as a leader as we’ve heard plenty of times by his teammates throughout this past year.
Next. For Veteran Free Agents the Leafs Should Pursue. dark
Bringing back Jason Spezza to the Toronto Maple Leafs would be priority number one for them out of these players on this list. (Stats from NHL.com)