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Toronto Maple Leafs: A List of Free Agent Targets For Each Position

By Jeremy Ridgewell

TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 15: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins at the Scotiabank Arena on November 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 15: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins at the Scotiabank Arena on November 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
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Defense

Due to salary cap issues, free agency, and the upcoming NHL expansion draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs could lose a few of their defensemen from the 2020-21 season.

Zach Bogosian is a unrestricted free agent who might sign somewhere else. Travis Dermott is a restricted free agent who might get traded so the team doesn’t lose him to the Kraken for nothing, while Justin Holl could be traded or selected by the Kraken in the expansion draft.

Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas could be very busy retooling his defense this summer. Here some possible defensemen for him to target,

Dougie Hamilton

Dougie Hamilton is the big fish in this year’s free agency period. Signing him will not be easy for Toronto. It is estimated that he is seeking $8 million – $9 million AAV on a multi-year deal.

If Toronto does end up trading Rielly, then I think they have a shot at signing Hamilton, otherwise I think he is out of their league due to the salary cap.

Hamilton will average 20-22 minutes a night, and score 40 plus points a season. He would give Toronto a real threat from the blueline on the power play. Something they never really had this season.

Hamilton will also record 80 plus blocks a season along with 80-90 hits as he’s not afraid to use his large 6’6 227 Lbs. frame.

Hamilton projection: 7 Years – $8.5 million AAV

Jamie Oleksiak

If the Toronto Maple Leafs are unable to land Hamilton, then Oleksiak is a great second choice. Oleksiak is a 6’7 and 255 lbs. bringer of pain, which Toronto would love to add to their defense.

Oleksiak is not nearly as offensively gifted as Hamilton, but he makes the team harder to play against. He had 88 blocked shots and 148 hits in 56 games this season while averaging 20 minutes a game.

Oleksiak projection: 4 Years – $4.5 million AAV

Alec Martinez

If Toronto does end up losing Holl to the Kraken or end up trading him, Alec Martinez would be a perfect replacement. The reason being that Martinez played with Jake Muzzin in Los Angeles with the Kings. A reunion of these two could be just what the Toronto Maple Leafs need.

Martinez scored 32 points this season and averaged just over 22 minutes a game. Toronto could use a defenseman who can play those kind of minutes. Especially if Rielly or Holl are gone, and moreso if both are gone.

Martinez projected: 3 Years – $4 million AAV

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