No. 1: Tyler Bozak
Bozak left the Toronto Maple Leafs a few years ago because the team couldn’t afford him, but as a pending UFA, the team may be able to swing a deal for a reunion.
The St. Louis Blues are fading and could end up missing the playoffs this year. With a few young core pieces still on the roster, they may be inclined to move on from their aging centre.
The 35-year-old is a perfect third or fourth line centre and would be able to provide a ton of experience from the Blues’ Stanley Cup victory a few years ago. After spending nine years in Toronto, and making a name for himself, you’d have to think he’d be happy to return.
Bozak’s $5M cap-hit is expensive, but it’s not impossible for them to acquire him at this point.
When it comes to acquiring a player on an American team, they still have to quarantine for seven days, so you’re going to be getting limited games from them after the trade deadline. Instead of getting a player who’s unfamiliar with the Toronto market, it could be a benefit to bring back a player who knows it well.
Bozak’s stats have declined over the years but you know he’d be rejuvenated to join the Leafs and try to win a Stanley Cup where it all started for him.