4 Players From Cup Final That Toronto Maple Leafs Should Sign

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Colorado Avalanche looks on during a break in the first period in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 24: Ondrej Palat #18 of the Tampa Bay Lightning (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Ondrej Palat (LW/RW)

With 94 points in 138 career playoff games, I can’t think of a better player to join the Toronto Maple Leafs top-six than Ondrej Palat.

Drafted in the seventh round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Palat has turned into a spectacular player with the Lightning, but his play seems to heighten when the game’s more important.

Starting as early as his days in the American Hockey League, Palat turns up his play during the playoffs, which is something that can’t be said about everyone.

Although, on average, he’s been between a 45-60 point per-season player, Palat is probably going to be asking for a big contract, based on his playoff performances.

With two Stanley Cup rings and four Stanley Cup Finals appearances, that experience is worth the price, especially because he backs it up.

The price is obviously the biggest thing right now, but if there was a way for Toronto to afford him, he should be their number-one option.

The Leafs second-line needs one more piece to solidify the top-six, so in a perfect world, Palat is the guy to do it.

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