Toronto Maple Leafs Send Fan Favorite to the Waiver Wire

Early Sunday afternoon the Toronto Maple Leafs placed Travis Boyd on waivers in order to free up some cap space before the April 12 trade deadline.

There is a chance that Boyd clears waivers and is simply assigned to the taxi squad, which would then allow Boyd to move from the taxi squad to the team up until the trade deadline. But I believe that Boyd has played well enough this season on the Toronto Maple Leafs fourth line to draw some interest from other teams, and has thus likely played his last game as a Maple Leaf this season.

Boyd has played 20 games for the Leafs this season putting up a pretty respectable three goals and five assists while averaging only 9:40 on the fourth line. ( stats courtesy NHL.com ).

Boyd played well in the role he was given and usually gave the fourth line a good spark with his speed and skating ability. There are plenty of teams in the league that could use a player like Boyd in their bottom six, and at only a 700k cap hit for the season ( per capfriendly.com )there is no risk to claiming him. And honestly if Jimmy Vesey can be claimed and then thrown in a top six role with the Vancouver Canucks, then I imagine Boyd would get some interest from a team looking to add depth.

Toronto Maple Leafs Depth and Options

It is the depth that Kyle Dubas has acquired prior to and during the season that has allowed the Toronto Maple Leafs to put Travis Boyd, and just earlier this week Jimmy Vesey, on waivers without concern of losing those players.

The return of Wayne Simmonds from injury and the strong debut of Alex Galchenyuk for the Maple Leafs this weekend against the Calgary Flames have given the Maple Leafs the luxury of losing forward depth at the bottom of their roster. Galchenyuk played well enough that he will continue to get a look along side John Tavares and William Nylander, and barring injury Simmonds will be in the line-up every night.

The Toronto Maple Leafs also have an embarrassment of riches at forward with the Toronto Marlies and on their taxi squad waiting for an opportunity. Nic Petan, Alexander Barabanov, Joey Anderson and Kenny Agostino have all been playing well and deserve an opportunity to get into the line-up if an injury should occur.

Not to mention Nicholas Robertson, who is now on the taxi squad and you have to imagine is eager to get into the line-up. Robertson has been playing at a point per game pace with the Marlies and I imagine it is a matter of time before he gets another look with the Leafs.

There have also been a lot of trade rumours surrounding Kyle Dubas and the Maple Leafs, with Dubas even flat out admitting that they are looking to add to their forward group. With an imminent addition of a possible top 6, most certainly top 9, player, and multiple talented players waiting on the taxi squad and with the Toronto Marlies the Maple Leafs can lose Travis Boyd for nothing and happily take the additional cap space.

Between now and their next game, Thursday versus the Ottawa Senators, I would be surprised if we do not see an addition to this team. You played well Boyd, and we wish you well wherever you may land.