Toronto Maple Leafs Should Try to Sign UFA Tomas Tatar

With the Tampa Bay Lightning crowned Stanley Cup Champions for the second year in a row, that means the season is now over and that just like every other team, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be dealing with free agency in a few weeks.

Although they have already re-signed Jason Spezza, Wayne Simmonds, and Travis Dermott, they still have many other free agents who will either stay or walk. But general manager Kyle Dubas will also need to decide who outside the Toronto Maple Leafs he wants to bring in.

One option he has is the Montreal Canadiens left winger Tomas Tatar, who will be a free agent starting July 28, since it’s unlikely that he gets an extension with them.

"“I’m sure Tomas wants to look somewhere else,” Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said during his exit interview. “There are other players we’d like to bring to Montreal, and we have less cap space next year because we went over the limit this year with the performance bonuses, so we’ll be having even less cap space than anticipated.”"

Tomas Tatar Stats

During the regular season, Tatar had a record of 10-20-30 in 50 games played, which is pretty good. However, he only got one assist in five games in the playoffs, and that was the reason he was scratched from the lineup for most of the playoffs.

But he was a big part of the Canadiens getting to the playoffs, and he could do the same for the Leafs. Although they have more than enough stars in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander, there is no such thing as having too many good players.

As well, adding the uncertainty of whether left-wingers Zach Hyman and Alex Galchenyuk will stay or walk, Tatar could be a good replacement on either the first or second line.

He has played with Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher on the Canadiens’ first line for almost as long as he has been there and he would be a great addition to a Leafs lineup that could be lacking on the left side.

Nonetheless, one issue that comes to mind is the salary he would be expecting. In his last three years in Montreal, he made an annual average salary of $5.3 million, which I don’t think the Toronto Maple Leafs could afford at the moment. But, if they can find cheaper options for some other UFA replacements, and if they’re able to negotiate with Tatar, they should be able to sign him.

Adding him to the lineup would mean having an even more dangerous top-six, and that is an incredible weapon to have, especially considering the NHL will be going back to its regular divisions, and there is no doubt the Atlantic Division will be a strong one.