Toronto Maple Leafs: The Exhaustive List of NHL UFAs

In most years, July 1 is the most entertaining day of the off- season for Toronto Maple Leafs fans. This year, it’s July 28. That’s because it marks the start of free agency where players’ previous contracts expire and they’re free to sign with new teams.

Once the window opens, the Toronto Maple Leafs already know that they are going to lose Zach Hyman to the Edmonton Oilers. They could see others depart but they may also be in a position to sign players off other teams’ rosters.

Here is your exhaustive list of the top 50 pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) in order of the cost of their expiring average annual value (AAV). All statistics from hockey-reference.com and all cap figures are from CapFriendly.

Alexander Ovechkin – signed

Alexander Ovechkin is now 35 years old and is still a megastar in the league. He is coming off a deal that paid him an AAV of $9,538,462. Even though he had a down year, Ovechkin was still able to sign a massive deal to remain with the Washington Washington Capitals. He locked up a five-year, $47.5M deal. Last season, Ovechkin played 45 games and scored 24 goals (the lowest of his NHL career) and added18 assists for a total of 42 points. For most players, this is an excellent season but not for Ovechkin. The Capitals hope he rebounds next season.

Ryan Getzlaf

Ryan Getzlaf is a 36-year-old center. He is an Anaheim Ducks legend, having only played for them in his NHL career. Getzlaf has been in the organization since they drafted him 19th overall in 2003. It would be strange to see him in any other jersey. Last season, while being paid an $8.25 million AAV, he dressed in 48 games and registered 5 goals and 12 assists.

When Ovechkin signed his contract extension on Tuesday, it made Getzlaf the highest AAV going into unrestricted free agency. Pierre LeBrun predicts he will find his way onto one of four teams.

Ryan Suter

Ryan Suter was bought out on July 13 by the Minnesota Wild. If they hadn’t done so, he would be on their team being paid a $7,538,462 AAV until the end of 2024-25. This opens the defenseman up to potentially join the Toronto Maple Leafs though it doesn’t seem like it’s an ideal fit for either party.

Zach Parise

Just like Suter, Zach Parise was also bought out by the Wild on July 13. The team shedding these big salary players means they can go shopping in free agency. For the players, they can now sign with a new club for as cheap as the league minimum. Parise will probably cost more than that but he could be a nice fit at the bottom of the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup if he isn’t too expensive.

David Krejci

David Krejci has been an important part of the Boston Bruins success. He is a leader on the team and has been an important producing contributor. He is coming off an AAV of $7.25 million but will likely sign for far less. Expect him to remain with the Bruins next season.

Tuukka Rask

Speaking the name Tuukka Rask still makes Leafs fans shutter. That’s because the star goalie was originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was involved in the franchise’s worst trade of all time. The 34-year-old goaltender never played a game for Toronto and likely won’t return to do so this offseason.

Derek Stepan

Derek Stepan is a 31-year-old center coming off a $6.5 million AAV with the Ottawa Senators. He is nowhere close to the player he once was when he was playing for the New York Rangers. Stepan will find a team to join next season but it’s likely to be as a role player and nothing more.

Keith Yandle – signed

Keith Yandle is the third player on this list who was bought out of his NHL contract. He is an offensive defenseman and powerplay specialist who struggles in his own end. While it’s never ideal to have a player who is a liability on defense, especially when that’s their primary job, there is still value that Yandle can offer if put in the right spot as a bottom pairing. That’s likely why the Flyers gave him a one-year deal worth $900,000, which includes a no-trade clause.

Alexander Edler

Alexander Edler is another defenseman who plays on the left side. At age 35, he is coming off a contract with the Vancouver Canucks that had a $6 million AAV. Edler has only known playing for the Canucks in the NHL and like Getzlaf, it would look strange to see him with any other club.

David Backes

David Backes is a 37-year-old forward. He has had a wonderful career, most recently with the Ducks where they paid him a cap hit of $6 million. It is expected that Backes will not be returning to the NHL but instead hang up his skates and announce his retirement. If he does, he will retire with career earnings of nearly $60 million.

Brandon Saad

Brandon Saad will be a desirable player in free agency. He is 28 years old coming off a $6 million AAV with the Colorado Avalanche. This past season he recorded 24 points in 44 games. He had 15 goals and 9 assists. The danger of signing Saad could be both the value and term he is asking for, pricing him out of a number of teams’ cap availability. Obviously he might be on the expensive side of things, but he’d make a very good Zach Hyman replacement on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brandon Dubinsky

Back in January, the Columbus Blue Jackets placed Brandon Dubinsky on long-term injured reserve. He missed all of last season and hasn’t played since the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 34-year-old would be a risky signing for any team even if his medical exams say that his wrist is back to 100-percent. Having had chronic issues with it, there is a possibility that the NHL may have seen the last of Dubinsky.

Martin Jones

The most recent addition to the list is 31-year-old goaltender, Martin Jones. He was bought out less than 24 hours before the opening of free agency. He was placed on unconditional waivers by the Sharks for the purpose of a buyout.

If Jones hadn’t been bought out, he would have been under contract until the completion of the 2023-24 season at an AAV of $5.75 million. Now a UFA, he is free to sign with any team and should make a decent backup. This past season Jones played in 34 games and had a goals-against-average of 3.28 and a 0.896 save percentage.

Matt Niskanen

Matt Niskanen is a 34-year-old right-shooting defenseman. He is coming off his only season with the Philadelphia Flyers where he was useful on both ends of the ice. Niskanen can help any team improve their powerplay. This past season, he played in 68 games where he registered 8 goals and 25 assists for a total of 33 goals. Niskanen will have his suitors looking for what he can offer on and off the ice.

Travis Zajac

Travis Zajac is a 36-year-old center. He just finished the season with a team other than the New Jersey Devils for the first time. Zajac was traded to the New York Islanders where he played 13 regular-season and 14 playoff games. He had a goal and an assist for the Islanders in both, which was definitely a disappointment for GM Lou Lamoriello.

James Neal

When James Neal was claimed in the 2017 Golden Knights expansion draft, he made the Predators regret leaving him unprotected. After one season and getting close to the Cup, he signed a five-year deal in Calgary and hasn’t left Alberta since. That’s because the Flames used him in a trade for Milan Lucic, sending the winger to the Oilers. The first year looked great for Edmonton but this past season Neal struggled to produce. That’s why Oilers general manager Ken Holland decided to buy Neal out of the remainder of his salary on Tuesday. He is now a UFA.

Dougie Hamilton

Speaking of suitors, Dougie Hamilton may have every team in the league speak to his representatives. The 28-year-old right-shooting defenseman will be in demand once free agency opens. Hamilton had an AAV of $5.75 million where he tallied 42 points in 55 games for the Carolina Hurricanes. That came on 10 goals and 32 assists.

Alexander Steen

Alexander Steen is another name from the Toronto Maple Leafs past. Just like Rask, Steen too was dealt away for far too little. His career took off once he left Toronto to join the St. Louis Blues. It’s where he’s been ever since. Steen is now 37 years old and contributed 17 points in 55 games. Steen can be a veteran leader in a locker room who can help a younger team understand what it takes to win the Stanley Cup. The Blues made Steen a healthy scratch in the playoffs, limiting him to play in just five games. This might just mean that Steen’s time in St. Louis is up.

Gabriel Landeskog

Gabriel Landeskog might be the prize of the free agency this year. He has been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs though it will be difficult for the team to find the cap space for him unless they ship out a player with a significant cap hit. Landeskog would look excellent playing on one of Toronto’s top lines but the 28-year-old forward could probably earn a bigger paycheck playing elsewhere.

Nick Foligno

The Toronto Maple Leafs paid a steep price to the Blue Jackets for their captain, Nick Foligno. Columbus got Toronto’s 2021 first-round pick and their fourth-round choice in 2022. The Leafs would certainly love to keep Foligno and hope that he can stay healthy. It’s unclear at this time how much he would cost the team but the 33-year-old was paid $5.5 million last season.

Anthony DeAngelo

The Rangers had enough of Anthony DeAngelo and his antics and despite him being a young and very skilled defenseman. They decided that he would never play for the club again. The Toronto Maple Leafs should pass on DeAngelo just to keep the 25-year-old out of their locker room. You can read all about DeAngelo and his controversial past to get a better idea of why the Leafs need to keep their distance.

Kyle Palmieri

Kyle Palmieri is a 30-year-old forward finishing a five-year $23.25 million contract that paid him an AAV of $4.65 million. The Devils traded him to the Islanders to help them in the playoffs, which he did. In 19 games, Palmieri managed to record seven goals and two assists. It wouldn’t be surprising if Palmieri returned to form next season to be a 20-goal scorer for the sixth time in his career.

Ryan Murray

Ryan Murray, the longtime Blue Jackets defenseman just finished his first and only year with the Devils. With an AAV of $4.6 million, Murray had putrid possession metrics. The 27-year-old at even strength had a Corsi rating of 46.7, which was -4.8 percent, relative to his team. Murray logs big minutes and is an excellent passer but knowing how strongly Dubas feels about analytics, there’s very little chance he ever considers this blueliner for his team.

Artem Anisimov

The 33-year-old forward, Artem Anisimov has been plagued by injury since he joined the Senators. He missed time with an upper-body injury and spent time on the IR with a groin injury. Elliotte Friedman has reported that Anisimov’s time in the NHL is also likely up, with him being linked to the KHL next season.

Marcus Johansson

Marcus Johansson just finished playing with his fifth NHL club in just six years, most recently with the Wild. The 30-year-old forward was paid a cap hit of $4.5 million and was acquired by Minnesota to help them in the playoffs. Unfortunately, during the Vegas Golden Knights series, Johansson broke his arm and missed the remainder of the postseason.

Jason Demers

A team looking for a defenseman on the right side of a pairing may be interested in 33-year-old Jason Demers. He isn’t flashy but has been consistently steady. This past season, playing 5-on-5 with the Coyotes, he had a Corsi rating of 50.0, which was 1.2 percent better than his team.

Brandon Sutter

Brandon Sutter is a versatile forward who can lead a third or fourth line. The 32-year-old, former 11th overall draft pick was once a hard-hitting player who used his six-foot-three frame to flatten opponents in the corners. He doesn’t appear to be that sort of player any longer. Last season with the Canucks, in 43 games he threw a total of 18 hits. That said, he is still competent in his own end and is a star on the penalty kill.

Brendan Smith

Is Brendan Smith a forward or a defenseman? Over his career, he has gone back and forth to play both positions. Last season, he was a blueliner for the Rangers who was actually a healthy scratch in their opening day tilt. However, when DeAngelo was benched by the team, it opened up an opportunity for Smith. Earning a $4.35 million cap hit, the 32-year old played an average of 16 minutes and 26 seconds per game.

Devan Dubnyk

Devan Dubnyk player and wasn’t great for two teams this past season. Starting the season with the San Jose Sharks, Dubnyk posted uninspiring numbers. In 17 games between the pipes, he had a goals-against-average of 3.18 and a save percentage of 0.898. The 35-year-old backup was then traded to the Avalanche in April. He played five games for Colorado and his goals-against-average fell to 3.25 and save percentage to 0.886.

Braden Holtby

Another buyout victim just before the opening of free agency was 31-year-old goaltender Braden Holtby. The buyout only cut out this coming season, the final of the two-year $8.6 million contract he signed with the Canucks. Last season, Holtby played in 21 games and had a goals-against-average of 3.67 and a 0.889 save percentage. Adding the former Vezina winner and Stanley Cup champion should be an excellent pickup for a team to use as their backup next season.

Antti Raanta

Antti Raanta is a 32-year-old backup goaltender who may be looking for a new home after four seasons with the Coyotes. Coming off an AAV of $4.25 million, his price tag will be far cheaper next season. Raanta took to the crease in just 12 games last season where he had a goals-against-average of 3.36 and a 0.905 save percentage.

Ian Cole

Ian Cole has been known as a shutdown defenseman since joining the NHL. At age 32, he’s still blocking shots and throwing hits better than most. That’s why after only a handful of games, Wild general manager Bill Guerin parted ways with Greg Pateryn and sent him to the Avalanche in exchange for Cole. The defenseman came as billed and became an important part of Minnesota’s blueline. In 52 games, Cole blocked an impressive 92 shots and dropped his shoulder for 34 hits. Expect Guerin to try to keep Cole.

David Savard

David Savard was a keen acquisition for the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline last season. Sending the right-shot defenseman to Tampa got the Blue Jackets a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. It was a deal that worked out great for both clubs as Columbus can continue to build for the future while Savard ended the season with Lord Stanley’s Mug above his head. At age 30, Savard showed that he can still be a top-four defender on his team.

Mathieu Perreault

Mathieu Perreault is a 33-year-old 5’10 center. At this stage in his career, he would still be an excellent addition to any team’s fourth line. Perreault competes hard, going after opponents with a full head of steam. With the Winnipeg Jets last season, he laid 84 hits while playing just 11:43 minutes of ice time in 54 games. He also had 19 points on 9 goals and 10 assists.

Nick Bonino

The 33-year-old center Nick Bonino earned a $4.1 million AAV last season with the Wild. Bonino is the sort of player that teams would like to have on their third line. Last season, Bonino registered 10 goals and 16 assists. Let’s not forget that Bonino can be an important voice inside a contender’s locker room, after having captured two Stanley Cups.

Mike Hoffman

Mike Hoffman should be in demand this offseason. The 31-year-old forward has eclipsed the 30-goal mark and only failed to reach this past season for the first time in seven years. Hoffman did manage to record 36 points in 52 games on 17 goals and 19 assists. The big question for this offense machine is who will pay him the most. He is coming off of a $4 million AAV and might still be too expensive for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Erik Gudbranson

Three years ago there were rumors that the Leafs were interested in acquiring Erik Gudbranson from the Canucks. Since leaving Vancouver, the 29-year-old has played for four other NHL teams. Standing six-foot-five, the big defenseman has no trouble clearing players out from in front of his own net and making opponents think twice about dropping the mitts. There are general managers who will want the towering D-man patrolling their blueline for a fraction of the $4 million AAV he earned this season.

Alec Martinez

Alec Martinez is a 33-year-old left-shooting defenseman. In February of 2020, the Golden Knights paid the Los Angeles Kings two second-round draft picks for Martinez in a move that has since looked great for Vegas. Martinez had a $4 million cap hit, which was a bargain. He played an average of 22:34 minutes of ice time, had good possession metrics, and even produced 32 points in 53 games thanks to his 9 goals and 23 assists.

Darren Helm

Darren Helm is a lifetime Red Wing. Now 34 years old, he has been with the organization since they drafted him in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Helm has ingratiated himself to the fanbase thanks to the energy he brings to every single shift. The six-foot forward isn’t afraid to grind and go into the corners. He can still be a useful player but for far less than the $3.85 million AAV he has been earning.

Brandon Montour

Brandon Montour is a player who can still earn himself big money. The 27-year-old versatile defenseman is coming off a decent season playing in his own end and an excellent one offensively. Montour’s Corsi rating was a percent better relative to his team. He also had seven goals and 11 assists in the 50 games he split between Buffalo and Florida.

Mikael Granlund

The Nashville Predators’ GM, David Poile, will not be well-liked if he loses 29-year-old forward Mikael Granlund to free agency. That’s because he was the team’s best forward all season. Granlund bet on himself prior to the start of the season by signing a one-year deal worth $3.75 million. After notching 13 goals and 27 points in 51 games, he has earned himself a raise. Expect Poile to make Granlund an offer he can’t refuse.

Tyson Barrie

Another player who bet on himself is Tyson Barrie. Just like with Granlund, it was a good decision. The 29-year-old right-shooting defenseman signed a one-year $3.75 million contract to spend the season in Edmonton. He had good numbers there, registering eight goals and 40 assists in 56 games. There is a good chance that Barrie spends this offseason looking to cash in and find himself a more lucrative deal.

Jaroslav Halak

Jaroslav Halak is the other half of the Bruins goaltending tandem. Just like his partner, Rask, Halak is now a UFA. While it’s possible that Boston loses both keepers, they would do well to find a way to extend the pair. Even though Halak is now 36, his numbers suggest that he could still be one of the best backups in the NHL. In 19 games last season, he had a goals-against-average of 2.52 and a save percentage of 0.905. He may be a very good option for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

James Reimer

Former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie, James Reimer, spent the last two seasons with the Hurricanes. He was great as part of a tandem with Petr Mrazek and another former Leaf, Jonathan Bernier. Just like the Bruins, the Canes don’t have any goalies signed for next season. That makes it more likely that Reimer will return to Carolina. The 33-year-old was on a $3.4 million AAV when he took the net for 22 games. Reimer posted a 2.66 goals-against-average and a 0.906 save percentage.

Ryan Dzingel

Ryan Dzingel is coming off the worst season of his NHL career. The Senators traded for him in February, hoping he’d be more like the player he had been in previous seasons. Unfortunately for them, it didn’t happen. Dzingel, at age 29, is a player who can play on a team’s second or third line. There will likely be a few teams willing to take a chance on the forward hoping that he can rebound to be the player he was prior to the bubble.

There are plenty of players that the Toronto Maple Leafs may be interested in acquiring. While some fans have lost faith in GM Kyle Dubas’s negotiation skills, he will hopefully be able to bring in the right talent for his group to succeed next season.