The Toronto Maple Leafs will absolutely be in the market for some cheap additions to their roster this summer.
Gabriel Vilardi, who was drafted 11th overall in 2017, could be an option from the Los Angeles Kings; a team that the Toronto Maple Leafs have recent trade history with, if they opted for the trade route.
His struggles in the past season have him likely available at the his lowest trade cost (a likely necessity despite his free agent status), all this despite Vilardi having first-round pedigree.
Franky the Toronto Maple Leafs should at least test the waters on this 6-foot-3 centre, certainly when you consider he’s a restricted free agent coming off a bad year that saw him demoted to the AHL.
Gabe Vilardi Would Have Upside For the Toronto Maple Leafs
While his play was inconsistent enough to see him demoted to the Ontario Reign in November, he did return to the Kings line-up later in the season, though even then he didn’t really make it stick.
Assuming his next contract is likely around just $1 to $1.2 million, probably for two years and looking to the fact he’s only 22 years old, he definitely would have huge upside for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Here is a player that with a little more seasoning may eventually offer a fit on the second line, allowing an expensive John Tavares to shift his skills to the wing. Short-term though, you’re looking at the perfect antidote to a fourth line that still lacks a little direction.
The idea being you build it around Vilardi and two other prospects, potentially Alex Steeves and Joey Anderson and look for some lower line-up production, assuming of course that Sheldon Keefe can find them enough ice time.
While it’s still not the perfect spot for the player himself, the Kingston kid would still be seeing NHL time for the Toronto Maple Leafs, which is surely better than playing with the Ontario Reign.
Scouting reports from his draft year suggest that he has a 200-foot game and is willing to use his body to separate the puck; music to Leafs fans ears I’m sure. Let’s also note too that he has a scoring touch, evidenced with 15 goals in the AHL last year.
Looking at where he ended up this past season, namely on the wing; unfortunately he isn’t necessarily living up to his full potential as a center in the NHL. However, maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs development team could get him to where he needs to be.
Perhaps the challenge here is that if the Leafs can see this talent and potential, you have to assume the LA Kings absolutely see it too and will surely look to find ways that Vilardi remains a part of their organization.
That of course shouldn’t prohibit the Leafs from pursuing Vilardi, but doing so at any real cost should be very measured. After all, look at how well Sean Durzi is now turning out for the King’s post-trade.
Gabe Vilardi is certainly a curious case, one that might benefit from new surroundings and one that might have a lot more to unlock for the Toronto Maple Leafs. If a deal can happen at a very cheap price; it’s a worthwhile move. If however it is going to require an offer sheet; absolutely steer clear – his ceiling isn’t high enough and the Leafs don’t have the cap space to play those sorts of games.
Go for it, maybe? Maybe not? Who knows; maybe he’s this summer’s Michael Bunting.