Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Depth UFA Options Still Available

The Toronto Maple Leafs should be happy with the moves they’ve already made, but there’s still work to do.

Although the bottom-six forwards and defense for the Toronto Maple Leafs is looking a lot different, they could always add to it.

There’s no such thing as too much depth and the Leafs should continue to flex their muscles during Free Agency. Although every NHL team is losing millions of dollars by not having fans, the Leafs and MLSE are one of the more fortunate teams in terms of wealth. The Leafs alone (not including all other MLSE properties) were valued at $1.5B in January, 2020, which is five times more than the Arizona Coyotes ($300M).

Having a bigger bank account in a world where there is a player salary-cap gives the Leafs a huge advantage over many teams. Since every team has a maximum amount of player salary they can spend each season, the Leafs can use their extra money elsewhere, with one of those places being in the minor leagues. With no maximum salary cap in the American Hockey League (AHL), the Leafs can afford to sign players to one-way NHL contracts with intentions of keeping them in the AHL, while paying them a full-NHL salary.

For example, players like Brooks Laich and Milan Michalek were still making $4M per season when they were sent to the Marlies during the 2016-17 season. It’s not ideal to have a player making that much money be sent down to your AHL team, but the Leafs had the luxury of doing this, instead of looking at a buy-out.

I’m not saying that the Leafs should look to acquire a player for the same amount of Laich or Michalek with intentions of sending him down to the AHL, but the team can stockpile the Denis Malgin’s of the world and pay them a full NHL salary in the minors if they wanted to.

A number of these players would have to clear waivers if they’re getting sent down to the minors, so there’s a chance another team could pick them up, but if you stock-pile enough of them, you could make your AHL team very good and organization have a lot of depth as a result.

Here are five depth options that the Toronto Maple Leafs should still pursue in Free Agency:

#5. Drake Caggiula

I had the luxury of watching this player in junior with the Stouffville Spirit and even as a rookie, he seemed special. Although he’s bounced between the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks for the past five seasons, Caggiula would be a great fourth-line centre option or AHL call-up.

Coming off a $1.5M per season contract, the Blackhawks decided not to give Caggiula a qualifying offer, thus making him a UFA. For his production (9 goals, 15 points in 40 games played), I guess Chicago didn’t think he was worth this qualifying number, but that seemed like pretty good value to me.

Caggiula was on-pace for 18 goals and 30 points at an 82-game pace and can really fly on the ice. Although he’s undersized at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, he’s very skillful. If you look at the current roster of the Leafs, the following players have the opportunity of playing third or fourth-line centre right now:

• Alex Kerfoot
• Jason Spezza
• Pierre Engvall
• Travis Boyd
• Denis Malgin
• Adam Brooks

Although there’s a handful of players in the mix, adding another would increase healthy competition. The Pickering, ON native would probably love to play in-front of his friends and family every night, so if he’s willing to take a deal less than $1M per season, he’d be a great addition to the Leafs.

#3. Brett Ritchie

Coming off a one-year $1M deal, Ritchie will most likely be looking at a league minimum contract, as he split time in the NHL and AHL last year with the Boston Bruins organization.

The Orangeville, ON native was a stud in junior but hasn’t quite lived up to expectations after being drafted 44th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. At this point in his career, Ritchie is what we call a ‘tweener.’

If we compare him to a current Toronto Maple Leafs player, he’s like Nic Petan or Kenny Agostino. Both players are first-line options in the AHL, but are fourth-line players or healthy scratches in the NHL. After having a breakout 2016-17 season scoring 16 goals with the Dallas Stars, Ritchie hasn’t been able to replicate that again.

Although he’s only had six goals and 12 points over a span of his last two NHL seasons, Ritchie brings a different element to the Leafs organization if the team wanted to pursue him. He’s 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and is much bigger than the other forwards competing for a fourth-line spot. He can also drops the gloves when needed.

The 27-year-old right-winger should understand that he’s not going to get many more shots to crack an NHL line-up and whatever team decides to sign him could be his last opportunity to make the big bucks. A two-way contract for Ritchie could add great depth to the Leafs organization and provide some size if the team wanted to go in that direction.

#2. Beau Bennett

Speaking of players who haven’t lived up to their draft position, the former 20th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft was a “bust.”

Bennett had a ton of praise heading into his draft year, scoring 120 points, which included 41 goals in the BCHL. After playing two years in the NCAA with the University of Denver, Bennett decided to leave school early to become a professional hockey player. That was probably the worst decision he could have made, as he clearly wasn’t ready to make the leap.

The 28-year-old hasn’t been able to provide any stability at the NHL-level yet. With 24 goals and 64 points in 200 NHL games played, that’s not the type of production expected from a former first-round pick. However, his AHL stats have been pretty remarkable.

In his last 115 AHL games played, he has 95 points. The AHL isn’t a joke of a league so that point-total should be celebrated. Although Bennett hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2017-18 season, he would be a valuable piece to the organization.

With a wealth of NHL experience, he’s the type of player that can provide depth to this Toronto Maple Leafs team. The schedule will most likely be condensed and with injuries always happening, Bennett could be a solid call-up, as he’d most likely start with the Marlies.

#1. Michael Del Zotto

If you watched TSN’s Free Agent Frenzy, you would have seen Del Zotto on the broadcast, which was a unique perspective for someone who’s still playing. He was brilliant during the show and when he retires, he’s going to be able to transition nicely into TV but for the meantime, the Toronto Maple Leafs should look to sign him.

The 30-year-old has played for six different NHL teams and has 657 games under his belt. On the broadcast, Del Zotto already mentioned that he would be open to a team-friendly deal and understands the type of player he currently is at this point in his career.

He’s had a good career, but is now in the position of being a sixth or seventh defenseman on a good NHL team. I know the Leafs have added depth to their defense already, but why not add one more player in Del Zotto? He played his entire junior hockey career in the Greater Toronto Area and continues to live here in the off-season, so you have to think he’d open to becoming a Leaf.

Del Zotto most importantly understands his role, which could make him a perfect depth addition at a cheap cost. Obviously you don’t want to see a player like Travis Dermott leave, but if you bring in Del Zotto, you can make him expendable and use that money on another forward.

He’s not going to score 30-plus points like he’s done a few times in the NHL but he is going to provide experience and depth, which is necessary to a Stanley Cup winning team. Although he didn’t play much with the St. Louis Blues when they won their Cup in 2018-19, he was in the room and understands what’s needed to get another ring, which is very valuable to this Leafs team.