3 Bargain Targets for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Free Agency
Nothing would feel better for the Toronto Maple Leafs than signing a cheap player that overperforms.
When you’re in a cap crunch, you need to find cost-effective players that offer more upside than their contracts. With only $9.3 million in cap space, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to find those players to fill out their roster.
The issue is cheap players are usually unproven and involve risk. It’s all about narrowing down the players with the least risk possible. Here are three skaters general manager Kyle Dubas should monitor.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Vinnie Hinostroza
Since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL draft, Vinnie Hinostroza has had his fair share of ups and downs. It’s encouraging yet terrifying at the same time.
Throughout his career, the Chicago native played on three teams. He got drafted by his hometown Blackhawks, got traded to Arizona one month after re-signing in Chicago, flew to Sunrise Florida as a free agent, then got traded back to Chicago last season.
This time around, the forward should receive some contract offers north of the border. That’s because he has what the Toronto Maple Leafs would love to add.
Dubas has a reputation for favoring small forwards with skill, and they have an opportunity to sign one in Hinostroza. Despite bouncing around the NHL, he has been a reliable top-nine playmaker.
He only has three seasons of 20+ points, from the ’17-’18 season to the ’19-’20 season. What stands out is his 39-point season in ’18-’19.
While the numbers don’t pop, it’s important to note that he hasn’t played with much support. With him being a playmaker, that takes a toll on his numbers.
Vinnie was buried in the depth chart with Chicago in his first three seasons. That meant his teammates were a mix of Artem Anisimov, Ryan Hartman, Richard Panik, and Nick Schmaltz. Despite playing only 50 games in ’17-’18, Hinostroza proved to be the better of the group at that time.
After playing only nine games with the Panthers, the Blackhawks brought him back via trade. After not registering one point in his short nine-game stint with Florida, the winger racked up 12 points in 17 games in Chicago.
While some players inflate their stats on the power play, Hinostroza doesn’t. Of his 112 career points, only 11 came on the power play. With that, the Toronto Maple Leafs would have a playmaking winger capable of being impactful at even strength.
Concerns are there regarding defensive play and his need for a supporting cast. That shouldn’t be as much of an issue on a team like Toronto.
With Alex Kerfoot running the third line, concerns defensively should be eased. To complement the line, a scoring winger should play on the opposite wing. Que the calls for Nick Robertson!
Alex Galchenyuk
Versatility is always a good thing to have. That’s what the Toronto Maple Leafs have in Alex Galchenyuk. Why not bring him back?
As of this article, there is no word of a deal reached between the Leafs and Gally. I don’t see why nothing came to fruition yet. That is unless the forward is asking for a big buck.
Considering he was a third overall pick, you can say he was a bust. That’s not to say he isn’t a solid NHL player. Let’s take a look. During his career as a Hab, Galchenyuk kept his superstar potential in check. In 418 games with the team, he averaged 0.61 points per game, albeit a -34 plus-minus. That includes a 30+ goal campaign and two 50+ point seasons.
His career outside Montreal has been a little more questionable. Stints with the Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs mark teams’ uncertainty of the former highly-regarded player.
Alex’s most successful season since his grand departure came in his first season away from the Canadiens. That was when he put up 41 points in 72 games with the Coyotes. Since then, he has 37 points in 97 games. That averages 0.21 fewer points per game than his career as a Hab.
With all the red flags, why should Dubas hand Galchenyuk a contract? For one, he showed the flashes of potential last season in Toronto. While 12 points in 26 games aren’t something to brag about, five points in his last seven regular-season games are.
Gally needs to play with skaters that can feed him the puck in dangerous situations. As a goal-scorer, it is up to him to finish the play by putting the puck in the net. Who can set him up better than Mitch Marner or Auston Matthews? Not many.
With Zach Hyman leaving the team, a top-six role is open for the taking. That means Gally would get the opportunity to be an everyday top-six player in Toronto. It would be the best chance for the former third-overall selection to live up to the hype he once received.
Dubas would be wise to bring the forward back on a cheap short-term deal. Anything long-term or more than $3 million against the cap is a far fetch. Thankfully I see a deal getting done to ease Toronto’s cap crunch and give Alex Galchenyuk a much-needed confidence boost.
Michael Bunting
Every year there is that one player that no one knows heading into free agency that gets a ton of attention for being a cost-effective impact player. This year, it is Michael Bunting.
He didn’t have the most glorious pathway to the NHL. He had to work his way up through the ranks. That was after he dominated the Ontario Hockey League.
After getting drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Coyotes, Bunting spent three seasons between the AHL and ECHL before playing in his first NHL game, and five and a half years until he finally carved out a stable role in the NHL.
He proved the American Hockey League is not a large enough challenge in his last two and a half years with the Tucson Roadrunners. In that time, he averaged 0.87 points per game over 126 games.
His first stint in the NHL with the Coyotes didn’t pan out, notching only one point in five games back in ’18-’19. Another opportunity didn’t come up until this past season when he accumulated 13 points in 21 games.
On many teams, having 13 points in 21 games is a solid output. On the Arizona Coyotes, that is quite impressive. That’s saying a lot. He was able to produce despite the lack of talent on the team. Although he only played few games, the 25-year-old had one of the more productive seasons on the team. He averaged 0.62 points per game, which tied for fifth on the team.
What I find interesting is 10 of Bunting’s 13 points were goals. Meanwhile, he eclipsed 20+ goals in the AHL only once. That may suggest a lucky year for the forward and risk for any team willing to put their trust in him. That’s especially so when you consider his 26.3 percent shooting percentage.
HEY, #LeafsNation heading into the free-agent frenzy, the #Leafs don't have a ton of cap space. With that in mind, which bargain player would you want Kyle Dubas to sign? Alex Galchenyuk (TOR), Michael Bunting (ARI), or Vinnie Hinostroza (CHI)#LeafsForever
— Lucas Mascherin (@LucasMascherin) July 27, 2021
Despite that, you can see the potential in Michael Bunting. While I wouldn’t trust him to score every second game like he did this past season, being a solid third-liner is not out of the question.
NHL stats courtesy of NHL.com
Other stats courtesy of elite prospects
I’m looking at it like this. The safe player would be Hinostroza, and the risky player would be Bunting. It’s a higher risk but a higher reward. Gally would be the most expensive, but guarantees to be a complementary top-six player for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Next. 3 Left Wing Options for the Leafs. dark
Sometimes, taking the safe route works out best. Other times, you need to put your chips in and hope for the best. Vote in the poll and let me know what you think!