Toronto Maple Leafs: What to Do With All 12 UFAs

The Toronto Maple Leafs enter this off-season with 12 pending unrestricted free-agents.

This is actually one of the smartest things that the Toronto Maple Leafs do, and it gives them an absolute ton of flexibility despite their commitment to four players for 40% of their salary cap.

One of the reasons the Leafs cap situation is better than most other teams, is because they don’t give out long-term deals to fringe players.  While every other NHL team has a bad contact or two, the Leafs don’t and it gives them a ton of flexibility.

Sure, they can’t break the bank on free agents, but they also don’t need to.

What the Leafs need to do is let most of the twelve UFAs walk, and give their kids a chance to crack the roster.  Here is a blow-by-blow on the team’s UFAs.

Toronto Maple Leafs Pending UFAs

Zach Hyman – He’s 29, hasn’t played a full season in over three years, and has a 100% chance of aging poorly.  His next contract will stink of regret, and the Leafs are lucky they can’t afford to re-sign him.  Letting him go will only make the team’s GM more unpopular, but hopefully this year taught Messiers Dubas and Shanahan the futility of giving people what they think they want.

Riley Nash –  He’s a great defensive player who brings no offense to the table.  This team should try to outscore their problems and Riley Nash should go play uneventful fourth line minutes on a different team.

Wayne Simmonds – Old players are just like knock-off brands. Their name evokes glory, but there is a reason they cost one-fifth of what they used to. The Leafs didn’t need Simmonds last year and they sure don’t know.  See ya.

Joe Thornton – See Above.  It is way better to have hungry players fighting for ice time.  Signing legacy players makes it impossible to bench anyone, makes it impossible for anyone to break through and all it does is make the team worse because everyone feels the need to show respect to their heroes.

Nick Foligno – The Leafs can’t sign him and shouldn’t have any interest in doing so.  But they should at least hold a press conference to explain the sunk-cost fallacy to their fans.

Jason Spezza – As long as he doesn’t insist on anything more than the mandatory raise in the league minimum, sure, bring him back.  He, at least, earned it on more than his former glory.

Alex Galchenyuk –  If he will sign a league minimum contract, bring him back.  The cheap players need to provide upside, and he does.  At a couple of million though, too much baggage, too poor defensively.  However, on a cheap deal he’s got value. (info for this article from capfriendly.com).

Zach Bogosian – I said this signing was a mistake and it was. I also said the Thornton and Simmonds signings were mistakes.  They were.  The Leafs have about eight or nine better defensemen, and Bogosian is a bad player.  Next.

Ben Hutton – Like Bogosian, but somehow worse.  Hard pass.

Martin Marincin – He’s signing in Europe, which is funny because it’s hilarious to see people randomly hate a replacement player who does his job when necessary and has no real effect on the team one way or another.  I’d have re-signed him just for the comedy this provides.

Freddie Andersen – Offer him Jack Campbell’s contact and half the games.  Best stats gets the playoffs.  If his ego is too large for this move, let him go.

David Rittich – You need a third goalie and I have no feelings one way or the other about him.  If he is interested in coming back on the cheap, what the hell.