Toronto Maple Leafs: Free Agents to Watch in the Final Four
It’s finally time to start thinking about possible trades and deals for the Toronto Maple Leafs 2021-22 season.
Since the playoffs are not over, let’s take a look at some free agents that are now playing in the Stanley Cup Semifinals, and how they would fit in with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs currently have 11 free agents, all of whom are unrestricted, save Travis Dermott.
The 10 UFAs are Riley Nash, Alex Galchenyuk, Zach Hyman, Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds, Nick Foligno, Ben Hutton, Zach Bogosian, David Rittich, and Frederik Andersen.
Jason Spezza was a free agent but re-signed with the Leafs for another year, with a minimum salary of $750,000. (All salary information capfriendly.com).
With all these free agents and the uncertainty of who will or will not re-sign with the Leafs, I will discuss four players to watch in Final 4 that could be great additions.
Jun 16, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) . Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Corey Perry, MTL, RW, 6’3, 206 lbs, 36 yrs, $750,000
Once the playoffs are over for the Montreal Canadiens, Corey Perry will be a UFA. He had signed a $750,000 one-year contract with the Canadiens, and if he’s looking to change teams and maybe get a slightly better contract, he could go to the Toronto Maple Leafs next.
In 49 games played in the regular season, Corey Perry scored nine goals and 12 assists for a total of 21 points.
Pros:
- Perry’s a very dependable player. His experience and patience are very valuable to whichever team he’s on.
- He’s also an agitator and draws penalties without taking too many himself. He’s the kind of player you hate to play against but love to have.
- Perry’s also a playoff performer, which is something the Leafs could really use. In 15 playoff games this season, he has scored three goals and five assists for a total of eight points.
Cons:
- Perry’s age is definitely something to be considered as a con, but considering the experience he has and his role as a fourth-liner, a short-term contract wouldn’t be bad at all.
- With Jason Spezza having re-signed with the Leafs, Perry might not be the best option. After all, we don’t want too many older players, but since Thornton hasn’t re-signed yet, Perry should be an option.
May 24, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez (23 Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Alec Martinez, VGK, D, 6’1, 209 lbs, 33 yrs, $4,000,000
Alec Martinez has been phenomenal to watch this season, and these playoffs in particular. The veteran defenseman also has playoff experience and has won two cups with the L.A. Kings.
He scored nine goals and 23 assists for a total of 32 points in 53 games this regular season, and three goals and two assists, for five points in 17 games this postseason. (stats nhl.com ).
Pros:
- Let’s keep it simple, there’s a reason his teammates call him a “warrior.” Martinez is a blocking machine. He has an average of over three blocks per game, which is the most in the NHL. The number of times he has saved his team from late goals, or just goals, in general, is immeasurable. And he was +26 in the regular season.
- Martinez is also known for his ability to skate, move the puck, and create offensive opportunities. So, not only does he prevent goals, but he also helps his team get some.
Cons:
- The only con that comes to mind is how expensive Martinez’s contract is considering the Leafs don’t have much cap space. I don’t expect Martinez to settle for less than $4 million, and I don’t see how Toronto could find a way to make it work for him.
May 16, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anthony Beauvillier (18) . Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Beauvillier, NYI, LW, 5’11, 182 lbs, 24 yrs, $2,400,000
If we have seen anything about Anthony Beauvillier in these playoffs, is that he is a playoff performer, something the Toronto Maple Leafs could really use. There’s no doubt that Matthews and Marner will get hot again, but if that’s not in the playoffs, at least they’ll have Beauvillier to rely on.
He scored 15 goals and got 13 assists, totaling 28 points in 47 games in the regular season. That’s an average of 0.6 points per game. In the playoffs, however, he has scored four goals and eight assists for a total of 12 points in 16 games. This averages 0.75 points per game.
Pros:
- Not only is Beauvillier a playoff performer, but he also has good numbers during the regular season, so he wouldn’t be too difficult to include in the lineup.
- His $2.4 million contract is also reasonable for his role considering his age. He could easily be on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander.
Cons:
- If he were to come into the lineup, someone would have to come out, and I was starting to really like Alex Galchenyuk with Tavares and Nylander. But we don’t even know if he will be staying with the Leafs.
- Beauvillier will be an RFA and not a UFA, so that also makes things a bit more complicated.
Apr 13, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Barclay Goodrow (19) Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Barclay Goodrow, TBL, LW/C, 6’2, 203 lbs, 28 yrs, $925,000
Just like Perry, Barclay Goodrow is another good cheap addition to the lineup, but younger. He can easily play on the third or fourth line, depending on what the Leafs need.
In 55 games played during the regular season, he had six goals and 14 assists for a total of 20 points and has two points in the playoffs so far (one goal and one assist).
Pros:
- Goodrow is a Toronto native, so that has to count for something. He’d be playing in his hometown, for a team he probably grew up watching.
- He uses his body to deliver hits and block shots, and as a forward, that’s always needed. He’d add physicality to a team that could really use some.
- He’s a great option for the third line and cheaper than Ilya Mikheyev, whose average salary is $1,645,000.
Cons:
- Goodrow doesn’t produce much, so that’s something to consider. Fourth-liner Spezza produced more offence than Goodrow during both the regular season and the playoffs.
Next. The Leafs Won't Be Bringing Hyman Back. dark
- Although he’d be a great third-line addition, Mikheyev still has one more year on his contract, so Goodrow would either have to move and take Wayne Simmonds’s spot on the right (that is if Simmonds doesn’t get an extension), or he’d be on the fourth line, which is also an option. I think having him on the fourth line would add depth to the Leafs lineup.