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)
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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Toronto Maple Leafs
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 20: Josh Manson #42 of the Colorado Avalanche  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

No. 4: Josh Manson (RD)

After being rumored to the Toronto Maple Leafs for years, that trade never happened and the soon-to-be UFA got shipped to the Colorado Avalanche, where he won a Stanley Cup.

The 30-year-old was a big-bodied defensive-first defenseman who could have been a difference-maker in Toronto’s series against Tampa Bay, but instead, he got to do that against them in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Even Manson’s offense came alive, as he scored three goals and had eight points in 20 playoff games after only having six goals and 16 points in 67 regular season games.

Coming off a $4.1M AAV contract, it seems highly unlikely that his price-tag will be much more than that next year, despite just winning a Stanley Cup. Manson doesn’t provide a lot of offensive abilities from the blue-line, so the Leafs may actually be able to afford him if he wants to come to Toronto.

The Leafs could always use another veteran defenseman who can play big minutes when the games get tough and that’s exactly what they’d be getting out of Mason if they signed him.