10 Former Toronto Maple Leafs that Are Free Agents This Year
Adam Brooks
Current Team: Winnipeg Jets
Age: 26
2021-22 Stats: 25 Games, 2 Goals, 3 Points
Current Salary: $725,000
Adam Brooks didn’t have a great year as he bounced around the NHL last season. First he was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Montreal Canadiens, then claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights, then claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but before he even played a game in Toronto, he was claimed by the Winnipeg Jets.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have obvious interest in Adam Brooks, but it seems to be as an AHLer who could fill in for injured players when needed. There is also obvious interest in Brooks around the league seeing how he was claimed by three other teams last season.
Adam Brooks was born and raised in Winnipeg, so a return to the Jets may be likely, however Brooks did go without a point in 14 games with the Jets last season.
If a deal doesn’t get done with Winnipeg, I see Adam Brooks rejoining the Toronto Maple Leafs. No matter where he goes, it will likely be at league minimum and he’ll likely have to prove himself in camp or in the AHL before he earns a spot on an NHL roster.
Tyler Bozak
Current Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 36
2021-22 Stats: 50 Games, 2 Goals, 12 points
Current Salary: $750,000
Could Tyler Bozak be the new Jason Spezza for the Toronto Maple Leafs? Unlikely.
Bozak is coming off what is by far his worst NHL season. At 36 years old, he doesn’t have much left to give. He barely earned his one-year extension with the St. Louis Blues last offseason, and I see him retiring this offseason.
It’s a little sad since Bozak spent nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. If his production hadn’t dropped off so much last season, it would have been great to see him back in a Leafs jersey.
At least he got to win a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, but it would’ve been amazing to see him win one with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Josh Leivo
Current Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 29
2021-22 Stats: 7 Games, 1 Goal, 3 Points
Current Salary: $750,000
Josh Leivo was another tweener who couldn’t quite hold a spot on the Leafs NHL roster before he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in late 2018.
It seemed like Leivo was finally an NHL regular after seeing a decent number of games with the Canucks and Calgary Flames for a few seasons. Unfortunately, Leivo was rarely used by the Carolina Hurricanes last season, but had 22 goals and 46 points in 54 AHL games.
Leivo will likely want to play somewhere where he’ll have a better opportunity to play at the NHL level, and he won’t likely get that opportunity with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
I wouldn’t totally count out a Josh Leivo reunion with the Toronto Maple Leafs though. If Leivo doesn’t get an offer with a great chance as an NHL regular, I could see the Innisfil, Ontario native returning to Toronto to start the season with the Toronto Marlies.
Brian Boyle
Current Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 37
2021-22 Stats: 66 Games, 11 goals, 21 points
Current Salary: $750,000
Brian Boyle only played 21 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he could return to settle some unfinished business.
He may be 37 years old, but Boyle proved that he still has gas in the tank after a successful professional tryout with the Pittsburgh Penguins out of training camp after sitting out for the entire 2020-21 season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be Boyle’s first choice, but Toronto may have interest in him in a fourth line role at league minimum.
Boyle (6’6) is a big body who can contribute in a role with limited icetime and would be an upgrade over Wayne Simmonds and Kyle Clifford. Boyle can also play centre.
Alex Galchenyuk
Current Team: Arizona Coyotes
Age: 28
2021-22 Stats: 60 Games, 6 Goals, 21 Points
Current Salary: $750,000
After being given a golden opportunity to get his career back on track by the Toronto Maple Leafs, I was shocked when Alex Galchenyuk signed a league minimum contract with the Arizona Coyotes last offseason.
Apparently, there were contract talks between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Galchenyuk last offseason, but when a deal couldn’t be worked out, the Leafs decided to fill Galchenyuk’s spot by signing Michael Bunting and Nick Ritchie to battle for the top two spots on leftwing.
Galchenyuk may have gotten a better deal on a better team if he didn’t play hardball with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Maybe Galchenyuk and the Leafs will have a more successful go at working out a contract this year.
Alex Kerfoot had a career year playing with Galchenyuk’s former linemates, John Tavares and William Nylander, but there have been plenty of rumours about a Kerfoot trade. Maybe Galchenyuk could be a cheap and familiar replacement.
Tyler Ennis
Current Team: Ottawa Senators
Age: 32
2021-22 Stats: 57 Games, 8 Goals, 21 Points
Current Salary: $900,000
Tyler Ennis is another player that the Toronto Maple Leafs took a chance on for the 2018-19 season who seems to have revitalized his career.
He’s had some success in his two stints with the Ottawa Senators since leaving Toronto sandwiched around a not so great stay with the Edmonton Oilers.
Ennis would be smart to extend his stay with the Ottawa Senators. I’m not sure if the Senators would keep the veteran around or plan to get younger this season.
The Leafs could use Tyler Ennis again in a bottom-six role, but his injury history may put a hamper on a Toronto reunion unless he’s willing to continue with a salary close to league minimum.
Anton Stralman
Current Team: Arizona Coyotes
Age: 35
2021-22 Stats: 74 Games, 8 Goals, 23 Points
Current Salary: $5.5 million
It’s been 14 seasons since we’ve seen Anton Stralman in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform, and he’s built quite a career since then.
Stralman is definitely not worth $5.5 million anymore, and where he lands will depend a lot on his determined price tag.
He’s a right-handed defenseman which seems to always be a wanted commodity, but with the number of defenseman currently on Toronto’s roster, it’s unlikely that they would add Stralman.
The Toronto Maple Leafs would probably stick with T.J. Brodie, Justin Holl and Timothy Liljegren on the right side and may even re-sign Ilya Lyubushkin before considering Stralman. Rasmus Sandin may see time on the right side too.
If one of those pieces is moved though, perhaps we could see Anton Stralman return to Toronto if the price is right. There may be better options available though.
Phil Kessel
Current Team: Arizona Coyotes
Age: 34
2021-22 Stats: 82 Games, 8 Goals, 52 Points
Current Salary: $8 million
Would it be bonkers to see Phil “the Thrill” Kessel back in a Toronto Maple Leafs uniform? It would be quite the story to see the ironman return to Toronto for another Cup run. He would be remembered forever if he helped bring the Stanley Cup to Toronto.
Kessel may be a perfect fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s thrived in situations where he’s relied on as a secondary scorer and not the centre of attention.
I can see him playing on the Toronto Maple Leafs second line with John Tavares. William Nylander could shift over to the left wing. That would be a powerful second line.
Kessel had the lowest goal total of his career last season, but the Arizona Coyotes were definitely less than inspirational last year. He did have a decent number of assists despite being on a terrible team and his goal scoring touch could bounce back on a good team.
I could see Kessel having great chemistry offensively with Tavares and Nylander too. Kessel has had a great ability to score at a distance where Tavares usually scores more up close. All three players can score and dish though.
Phil Kessel’s days as an $8 million player are behind him, but a deal in Toronto depends on his market value. Kessel likes Toronto though and brought the Stanley Cup to Toronto’s SickKids Hospital for his day with the Cup in 2016.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have actually just finished paying for the salary they retained when they traded Kessel to Pittsburgh in 2015. Imagine if they started paying him again.
Mason Marchment
Current Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 27
2021-22 Stats: 54 Games, 18 Goals, 47 Points
Current Salary: $800,000
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have unceremoniously dumped Mason Marchment in 2020, but I wouldn’t necessarily count out a return to Toronto for the Uxbridge, Ontario native.
Marchment had a career year with the Florida Panthers last season, and he’d be smart to stay with the Panthers if they agree to a fair raise. Florida has some decisions to make and not a lot of cap room.
His dad, Bryan Marchment, works with the San Jose Sharks, so that might be another great option for Mason. He will probably go where the money is best however.
Mason Marchment is relatively unproven after having his first great season, but someone is likely to overvalue him and offer him more than the Leafs would be willing to part with.
Nazem Kadri
Current Team: Colorado Avalanche
Age: 31
2021-22 Stats: 71 Games, 28 Goals, 87 Points
Current Salary: $4.5 million
Stanley Cup Champion, Nazem Kadri, is sure to be one of the most sought after free agents this year. He’s going to get a raise that’s out of the Toronto Maple Leafs budget.
After the comments he made after winning it all with the Colorado Avalanche, it seems very unlikely that Kadri would want to return to Toronto despite being born and raised in nearby London, Ontario.
Kadri told Hockey Night in Canada “For everyone that thought I was a liability in the playoffs, you can kiss my ass” which seems like a jab at the Toronto Maple Leafs who traded him after he was suspended in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Apparently, Kadri grew up as a Montreal Canadiens fan. If Montreal can free up some space, maybe they could be a potential landing spot. Colorado has their share of decisions to make, but could still retain Kadri as well.
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I’m excited to see what the Toronto Maple Leafs can pull off this offseason and would welcome the blast from the past of a returning player. Let’s see what happens.