Johnny Gaudreau
He’s 27, and has a similar cap hit to Forsberg and is also signed for another year. Like Hall and Forberg, he’s an offense-only left-winger (more defense than Hall, less than Forsberg) who plays on a bad team and who may be available.
The same questions arise here as they did for the other guys, only this one has an actual rumour going for it.
As the rumours author, Scott Burnside, so asutely points out, Gaudreau wouldn’t have to wait two weeks before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, potentially making him the most attractive option. I obviously don’t want to get my hopes up here, but after Kyle Dubas press conference yesterday, I am pretty psyched at the possibilities.
I started this article pretty sure the Leafs should concentrate on defensive players, but after writing in succession about Forsberg, Mantha, Hall, and now Gaudreau, I think I’ll be disapointed if they can’t turn the Big Four into the Big Five.
How could they afford such a thing? I don’t know, but I look forward to finding out.