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Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 UFA Centres Who Could Replace Alex Kerfoot

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Alexander Kerfoot #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads up ice with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 27, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Alexander Kerfoot #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads up ice with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 27, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – MAY 27: Alexander Kerfoot #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs   (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs are more than likely going to lose Alex Kerfoot in the Seattle Expansion Draft this offseason.

Alex Kerfoot seems to have a love-hate relationship with many Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Some appreciate his skillset as someone who can play defensive hockey, contribute on the penalty kill and chip in a few goals, while others wish he was Nazem Kadri.

When you get traded for one of the most beloved Leafs of the past decade, it’s always tough to live up to expectations. However, Kerfoot is nothing like Kadri, so it was an unfair comparison for anyone who ever thought he’d bring a similar style.

During his last two seasons in Toronto, his goal production has dropped from his Colorado numbers. That makes sense because he wasn’t asked to be as productive as he was with the Avalanche. Kerfoot’s role was to be a defensive third-line centre and to play the penalty kill, as we mentioned earlier.

In my opinion, I think he did a fine job and was a good player in that role, but at the same time, $3.5M seems like too big of a contract for him. When I think of Kerfoot, I put him in a similar spot as Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson.

All three of those players are fine pieces, but they were making too much money for what they provide. On a very good team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, they look way better than they are because they’re playing with elite forwards like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. However, when they play on a bad team like Johnsson on the New Jersey Devils, they only score five goals in 50 games.

Toronto is in a great spot when it comes to their forward positions and they don’t need a 30-goal scorer as their third-line centre. They need someone with either speed and/or grit, who can play the penalty kill, potentially help on the second powerplay unit and be defensively responsible.

If the Leafs are going to get far in the playoffs, their big-boy’s are going to have to carry the load. Instead of having a $3.5M cap-hit as your third line centre, you’d be better off with a $1.5-2M player, so you can sign a $5M left-winger to play in the top-six.

Since Toronto’s more than likely going to lose Kerfoot in the Expansion Draft, here are three potential replacements.

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