The Next Michael Bunting: Group 6 UFA’s for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs made the NHL’s best discount free agent signing last offseason by signing Michael Bunting to a two year deal worth an average of $950,000 per season as Bunting became the NHL’s best point-per-dollar player this season (excluding entry level contracts).

Michael Bunting (who has one more year on the contract he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer) was selected as part of a small grouping of free agents that become available each offseason known as Group 6 UFA’s.  These players are generally some of the youngest unrestricted free agents available, and they can usually be taken at a discount since their NHL sample size is small making them relatively unproven.

Group 6 UFA’s are players on expiring contracts who are at least 25 years old, they’ve played at least three professional seasons (NHL, minor leagues or European professional leagues), but they’ve played less than 80 NHL games (28 NHL games of at least 30 minutes for goaltenders).

The Toronto Maple Leafs took chances on a few Group 6 UFA’s this season by signing Bunting and Carl Dahlström to NHL deals and Josh Ho-Sang to an AHL contract.  Dahlström played three NHL games and put up two assists in an injury relief role for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

The Leafs are sure to be paying close attention to this offseason’s class of Group 6 UFA’s hoping to attract another player who can impact the club in a positive way like Michael Bunting has.

Top 5 Available Group 6 UFA’s for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Here are five players eligible to become Group 6 UFA’s when the NHL free agent frenzy begins on July 13th that I think the Toronto Maple Leafs will consider signing.

As I’m writing, this all of these players are eligible Group 6 UFA’s, but their is a chance they could be re-signed by their current teams before the free agent signing period begins.

A few honourable mentions not on this list  include former NHL first round draft picks, Nick Merkley and Samuel Morin, former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, Dakota Joshua, and current Toronto Maple Leafs forward, Brett Seney. (stats hockeyreference.com).

Let’s start with a player Toronto Maple Leafs fans should remember fondly:

Adam Brooks – Centre – Played for Toronto Maple Leafs (2019-2021)

NHL Totals
43 Games
6 Goals
11 Points

Adam Brooks was a 4th round pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.  He played a few great season with the Toronto Marlies, and in 2020-21, he had four goals and an assist in 11 games with the  Leafs.

Brooks was one of the Leafs final cuts at training camp this season.  The team wanted Brooks to start the season with the Marlies, but he was claimed by the Montreal Canadiens when he was put on waivers.

Actually, Brooks was a real journeyman this season as he was later claimed by the Vegas Golden Knight, then the Toronto Maple Leafs and finally the Winnipeg Jets.  Brooks couldn’t seem to get comfortable with any of these new teams and his point production wasn’t great this season as a result with only five points 25 games.

The Leafs obviously want Brooks on their team as they claimed him off waivers back in February, but it might just be as an minor leaguer who can sub onto the big club when injuries occur.  Since he’s a Winnipeg native, I thought he’d stick with the Jets, but after going pointless in 14 games since arriving in Winnipeg, I’m not sure if they’ll re-sign him.

Sebastian Aho – Defenseman –

NHL Totals
61 Games
4 Goals
18 Points

Not the same Sebastian Aho as the Carolina Hurricanes forward, Sebastian Aho.  This Sebastian Aho is a defenseman for the New York Islanders.

Sebastian Aho had career highs this season with 36 games, two goals and 12 points.  Not bad considering he was getting third line minutes only averaging 16:27 minutes per night.  Aho is known as a puck moving defenseman who can join the rush, but also has some defensive game.  He blocks a lot of shots, but he’s a little under-sized for a defenseman.

Aho has played in three AHL All-Star games, and has put up some great AHL stats with 21 goals and 105 points in 156 games.  He’s ready to show what he can do fulltime in the NHL.

He’s not going to be a top pairing player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but if Mark Giordano and Ilya Lyubushkin leave in free agency, they’ll need depth defensemen like Aho who would likely fit as a seventh defenseman.

Sami Niku – Defenseman –

NHL Totals
67 Games
2 Goals
16 Points

Sami Niku is a very versatile defenseman with both offensive and defensive upside.  He shoots left but has experience playing on both the left and right side.

He’s known to have a high hockey IQ and makes smart moves with the puck while being defensively responsible.

He’s an average sized defenseman who blocks a lot of shots and was able to record six assists in 13 NHL games last season with bottom pairing minutes on an atrocious Montreal Canadiens team.

In the AHL, he has 24 goals and 93 points in 150 games and won the Eddie Shore Award in 2018 as the AHL’s best defenseman.

He’s ready to play fulltime in the NHL, and though he’d probably start off as a seventh defenseman on the Leafs, I think he could be a surprising player who could compete for more ice-time.

Cooper Marody – Centre/RW –

7 Games
0 Goals
1 Point

He might not have much NHL experience, but if any Group 6 UFA forward is going to have a major impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s going to be Cooper Marody.  He’s a classic case of an NHL ready player who hasn’t been given a chance.

Offensively, he’s proven that can dominate in the NCAA and the AHL.  In 2018, he was named to the NCAA B1G First All-Star Team and the NCAA West Second All-American Team while leading the NCAA B1G with 51 points in 40 games. (stats from EliteProspects)

Though he’s known more for his playmaking ability, he led the AHL in goal scoring in 2020-21 with 21 goals in 39 games.  In 182 total AHL games, he has 67 goals and 175 points.  Last season he had 21 goals and 55 points in 52 AHL games.

Despite all his minor league success, Cooper Marody has only appeared in one NHL game since the 2018-19 season.  He recorded an assist in his only NHL game last season, and he was sent back down to AHL two days later.

He’s also a defensively conscience player, and at 6’0, he’s slightly below average height for an NHL player, but he’s certainly not a small player.  I can’t understand why he hasn’t been given a chance with the Edmonton Oilers, but this guy defiantly needs to sign with a new team.

I could see him fitting in a few different position on the Toronto Maple Leafs.  At best, he could play on the Leafs second line dishing pucks to John Tavares and William Nylander.  At worst, he’s an elite AHL scorer ready and waiting for a call up.  This is a player the Leafs should definitely take a chance on.