Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 5 UFA’s After Day 1 To Target

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t make a huge splash during Day 1 of free agency, which means we could be in for a big signing on Day 2 or beyond.

After they traded for Matt Murray, the Toronto Maple Leafs reassured their goaltending position by signing Ilya Samsonov to a one-year deal at $1.8M.

In terms of value signings for the day, that has to be at the top of the list across the NHL. The 25-year-old is a former first-round draft pick and has all the potential in the world to be great. That’s still an incredibly young age for a netminder, so with the right guidance, he could be the starter by the end of the year.

The Leafs also signed  Adam Gaudette and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who will add depth to the organization and fight for minutes at the bottom of the lineup. I’d expect Aube-Kubel to have a better chance than Guadette, but at this point it’s anyone’s guess right now as to who will be competing for what jobs come September.

Besides that, the team didn’t make a huge impact.

They still need to sign Rasmus Sandin and when that happens, it’ll more than likely spark a trade for either Justin Holl, Jake Muzzin and/or Alex Kerfoot. It feels like the team needs to know whether or not Sandin will be with them next before they make a big splash, as Sandin’s contract is going to provide value, no matter what number he gets signed to.

Although there were a lot of big-name players signed on Day 1, here are the top five players that the Toronto Maple Leafs should target who are still available.

UFA Options for the Toronto Maple Leafs :

No. 1 Ondrej Palat

All signs pointed to Ondrej Palat returning to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but now that he’s officially a free agent and won’t be returning to Tampa, Toronto should be all over him.

Toronto’s biggest issue right now is their top-six left-wing position and there’s no better player on the market than Palat.

He has good size at 6-feet-tall, 195 pounds and has a proven track record for performing in the playoffs. With 138 career playoff games, Palat has continued to play a huge part in the Lightning reaching four Stanley Cup Finals’ in his career and he’s delivered in the biggest moments.

Toronto could always use more experience and a winning pedigree and as shown in the past, Palat seems to step up in the biggest games.

It was clear that Tampa’s series against Toronto was their toughest test, besides Colorado of course. So by battling them for seven games, it could help the chances of Palat wanting to join the Leafs, knowing that he could be that player that gets them over the edge.

No. 2: John Klingberg

Toronto is targeting a big right-handed defenseman right now and the best one on the market is Klingberg, who they should be incredibly interested in.

Leading up to the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline, Klingberg’s name was continued to be rumored to the Leafs because it was exactly what they needed. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Klingberg not only brought size and some physicality, but he brought offense.

If Toronto brought him in, they could have a great looking defense with the following:

• Morgan Rielly/TJ Brodie
• Rasmus Sandin/John Klingberg
• Mark Giordano/Timothy Liljegren

You’d obviously have to trade Justin Holl and/or Jake Muzzin to acquire him, but it’s worth it. Klingberg is a proven 50 point player and can help your powerplay.

If the Leafs don’t offer him a contract or find a way to talk to him, they are missing out on a great opportunity.

No. 3: P.K Subban

I don’t see a world where P.K Subban plays for another team besides the Toronto Maple Leafs next season. It just makes way too much sense.

He’s from Toronto, just made a bizillion dollars on his last contract and needs to find a team to turn his career around or try to win a Stanley Cup. On a one or two-year deal at a minimum contract, Subban could finally dawn the blue-and-white, compete for a Stanley Cup and then walk his way into another big contract to end his career.

It’s kind of the perfect scenario for both parties.

The former Norris Trophy winner has had a tough few years in the league, but he’s also been playing in New Jersey, which is an awful place to play. Everyone knows that Subban thrives under the spotlight and there’s no bigger market than Toronto, so it’s a perfect match.

Not only would the fans love him, but it would also fill a void in Toronto’s line-up. Subban can be a physical defenseman, but he also has a huge shot from the point, which Toronto needs on their power-play.

Having previously made $9M per year, if Subban was willing to take a hometown discount at $3M or less, he could push Justin Holl out of the line-up and be a big upgrade on him.

Let’s make this happen, Toronto!

No. 4: Dylan Strome

Eric and Marc Staal both signed in Florida on Day 1, so the Strome brothers should have done the same in Toronto, before Ryan signed in Anaheim late Wednesday night.

Dylan is a great player, who was another victim of Chicago’s rebuild. Instead of qualifying him, they let him go and now that he’s a free agent, the Leafs should definitely consider signing him.

The 25-year-old was a former high-end pick (3rd overall in 2015 NHL Entry) who hasn’t quite developed into the player everyone thought he would be. However, after scoring 22 goals last year, Strome is slowly coming into his own and getting an opportunity to play in Toronto’s top-six could extend him into a 30-goal scorer.

Obviously it comes down to price, but Strome would be a great fit in Toronto.

He brings solid size and skill, but could be another value contract who takes a hometown discount to play in Toronto. The Leafs need to continue to flex their muscles that playing in Toronto is a great fit for him, as they look to add to their top-six wing or third-line centre position.