10 Free Agent Forwards for the Toronto Maple Leafs 2nd Line

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to improve their team as much as possible this offseason, and one item on their free agent shopping list may be a new forward to play with John Tavares and William Nylander on their second line.

Alex Kerfoot played the majority of the season in that position and had a career year with 13 goals and 51 points in 82 games, but an upgrade at that spot may be what the Toronto Maple Leafs need to push them over the top.

There have also been a lot of rumours about a potential Alex Kerfoot trade since he joined the Leafs in 2019. If Kerfoot is moved, a replacement will be needed unless someone like Pierre Engvall or Nick Robertson can step into the role.

Beyond their obvious need to solidify their goaltending, another scoring forward may be their top priority.

10 Free Agent Forwards for the Toronto Maple Leafs Second Line

This list isn’t just a list of the top available free agent forwards. In the past, the Leafs have seemed unwilling to spend more than $3.5 million to fill the spot beside Tavares and Nylander, so players were chosen for this list that are projected to sign around that price-point or less.

Many players selected for this list have been involved in rumours revolving around the Toronto Maple Leafs and players that would be interesting adds if they joined the team.

Restricted Free Agents were excluded from the list since they are rarely signed by unmatched offer sheets.

A couple players that were close to being additions to this list were Ryan Strome and Andre Burakovsky, but ultimately, I decided that both players would most likely sign at a price beyond the Leafs budget.

Let’s start with a player that has filled this role before with the Toronto Maple Leafs:

(Stats and some information from Capfriendly and DobberHockey)

Alex Galchenyuk

Team: Arizona Coyotes
Age: 28
2021-22 Stats: 60 Games, 6 Goals, 21 Points
Current Salary: $750,000 AAV
Projected Salary: $1 Million – $750,000

Alex Galchenyuk is the cheapest option on this list as he will likely sign another deal at league minimum.

It would be a wise decision on Galchenyuk’s part to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs and try to revitalize his career once again with the team that gave him such a great opportunity before.

It was surprising to see Galchenyuk take another contract with the Arizona Coyotes at league minimum last season after negotiations broke off with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs interest in Alex Galchenyuk likely depends on what options the team has available to them over the next couple weeks and the amount of cap space available once they’ve solidified their goaltending.

He likely isn’t an upgrade to Alex Kerfoot, and if the Toronto Maple Leafs make moves to create even more space, they should be able to make a bigger splash in the free agent market than Alex Galchenyuk.

Max Domi

Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 27
2021-22 Stats: 72 Games, 11 Goals, 39 Points
Current Salary: $5.3 Million AAV
Projected Salary: $2.5 – $2 Million

With underwhelming stats since his last contract was signed, Max Domi is projected to take a huge pay cut in the new world of a nearly flat cap.

The legend of Max Domi joining the Toronto Maple Leafs to fulfill the prophecy of his father, Tie Domi, has been told by Leafs Nation long before his draft day, however, it’s unlikely that Leafs GM Kyle Dubas will be betting on prophecies.

Domi’s point production my have been dulled playing on the defense-first Columbus Blue Jackets and could be rekindled on an offensive juggernaut like the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Max Domi’s camp may reach out to the Toronto Maple Leafs if Domi is interested in returning to the city where he grew up, and if the price is right, it may be worth while for the Leafs to take a chance on him.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Rickard Rakell

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 29
2021-22 Stats: 70 Games, 20 Goals, 41 Points
Current Salary: $3,789,444 AAV
Projected Salary: $3.5 – $3 Million

There have been plenty of rumours over the past few seasons involving the Leafs interest in Rickard Rakell.

If they were interested in trading for his services before, they’ll certainly be interested in acquiring him as a free agent at a projected discount.

His production dropped with the Anaheim Ducks over the past couple seasons, but he proved with the Pittsburgh Penguins that he can elevate his game on a good team.

If the Penguins are planning to re-sign Malkin and Letang, they may not have room to keep Rakell who was acquired as a playoff rental at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Beyond his offensive ability, Rickard Rakell is also a great two-way player that would be a welcomed addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs second line.

Paul Stastny

Team: Winnipeg Jets
Age: 36
2021-22 Stats: 71 Games, 21 Goals, 45 Points
Current Salary: $3.75 Million
Projected Salary: $1.5 – $1 Million

If the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves pinched against the cap, the may want to set their sights on Paul Stastny.

Stastny is past his prime and on the decline, but he might be a good discount pick up for the short term.

He’s the oldest player on this list, but at the right price, he could be a great value as far as points-per-dollar much like Michael Bunting was last season or Jason Spezza before that.

If the contract is low risk, Stastny would be a great addition to the Leafs second line with his versatile scoring and playmaking abilities along with his two-way play.

He can still move despite his advanced age and stays relatively healthy.

Another team may be willing to overpay for him, but if not, he could get a great opportunity to continue to contribute to a contender with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jan 11, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell (36) makes a glove save with Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) looking for a rebound during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Reilly Smith

Team: Vegas Golden Knights
Age: 31
2021-22 Stats: 56 Games, 16 Goals, 38 Points
Current Salary: $5 Million AAV
Projected Salary: $3 – $2.5 Million

Even after trading Evgeni Dadonov, the Vegas Golden Knights only have about $5 million with only 16 NHL players under contract.

It looks very unlikely that they’ll be able to keep Reilly Smith.

Smith did miss the last 24 games of the regular season due to a knee injury, but if he can remain healthy, the Toronto native would be a great fit on the Toronto Maple Leafs second line.

He’s another versatile two-way forward that’ll work to grind out pucks much like Zach Hyman did for the Leafs.

Toronto could always use more Toronto boys on the team.

The opportunity to return home could lure Reilly Smith to the Leafs at a good price.

Phil Kessel

Team: Arizona Coyotes
Age: 34
2021-22 Stats: 82 Games, 8 Goals, 52 Points
Current Salary: $8 Million AAV
Projected Salary: $3 – $2.5 Million

It would be a thrill to see Phil Kessel return to the blue and white! What a story it would be to see him back in Toronto.

He would be a great compliment to Tavares and Nylander, and he has thrived in situations where he’s not the centre of attention.

Kessel’s scoring seems to have dried up in the Arizona desert, but a return to a contender is sure to kickstart his phenomenal goal scoring abilities.

His apparent invulnerability is another welcome asset of the ironman.

I’m not sure where Kessel wants to play next season, but I wouldn’t count Toronto out of the equation.

He did bring the Stanley Cup to SickKids hospital in Toronto after he won it all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Quiet Kessel may prefer a smaller market though.

Andrew Copp

Team: New York Rangers
Age: 27
2021-22 Stats: 72 Games, 21 Goals, 53 Points
Current Salary: $3.64 Million
Projected Salary: $4.5 – $4 Million

Andrew Copp would be an amazing asset for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His skillset would fit the team perfectly.

There have been a few rumours suggesting that John Tavares may eventually make a move to the wing, and Andrew Copp could be a great option as a second line centre.

The biggest issue is that a lot of teams will want to pick him up, and he’ll likely command a contract greater than the Leafs budget for the role.

Copp exploded offensively with the New York Rangers after he was acquired at the trade deadline and I could see him signing a new deal there.

David Perron

Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 34
2021-22 Stats: 67 Games, 27 Goals, 57 Points
Current Salary: $4 Million AAV
Projected Salary: $3.5 – $3 Million

There have been a bunch of rumours swirling about the Toronto Maple Leafs having interest in David Perron, and it’s understandable seeing the value they could bring into the fold with such a consistent player.

Perron took a bit of a dip last season after scoring over a point-per-game in 2020-21 for the first time in his career, but his stats were nothing to shake a fist at last year either.

He missed 11 games this season with an upper body injury and 24 games in 2018-2019 with a concussion, but other than that, the 34 year old is in relatively good shape.

Perron has played three stints with the St. Louis Blues totaling 11 seasons, and has signed their twice as a UFA, so he seems to like it there. If the Leafs can pry him away, he could be a huge difference maker.

Mason Marchment

Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 27
2021-22 Stats: 54 Games, 18 Goals, 47 Points
Current Salary: $800,000
Projected Salary: $4 – $3.5 Million

A Mason Marchment return to the Toronto Maple Leafs isn’t out of the question, but it’s not a sure thing either. Marchment was born in nearby Uxbridge, Ontario and developed in the Leafs system for five years after playing for Mississauga and Hamilton in the OHL.

It seemed like he was just given away by the Leafs in a trade for Denis Malgin. Toronto seemed to undervalue him, but it doesn’t mean that they saw no value in him at all.

Marchment may want to return to Toronto, but he may do best to try to stay with the Florida Panthers after having a breakout year with the team.

After earning close to league minimum up to this point, he’ll likely go where the money is best and the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t be willing to pay top dollar for a relatively unproven player who has only had one good NHL season.

Claude Giroux

Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 34
2021-22 Stats: 75 Games, 21 Goals, 65 Points
Current Salary: $8.275 AAV
Projected Salary: $4 – $3.5 Million

The best forward available that would fit the Toronto Maple Leafs budget may be Hearst, Ontario native, Claude Giroux.

I wouldn’t pencil his name onto the Toronto Maple Leafs roster yet though.

Giroux was adamant about joining the Florida Panthers at the NHL Trade Deadline, and the team seems to have mutual interest in working out a deal.

Claude Giroux would have a dynamic presence on the Toronto Maple Leafs if they were able to work something out though. He could easily make his mark on either of Toronto’s top two lines.

Giroux grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan in a mostly French town in Northern Ontario. I wouldn’t totally count out the possibility of him joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it seems like there are a few other teams he’d rather play with.

Next. RFA's the Leafs Could Sign. dark

As far as a mutually beneficial match for both team and player, I feel that Reilly Smith might be the best fit. I would personally be very excited to see a Phil Kessel return though. I loved seeing his beautiful shot with quick release on the Leafs. Any upgrade they can make to their scoring lines will be gravy for the already amazing Toronto Maple Leafs.

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