Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Players Who Will Surprisingly Return Next Year

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With roughly half of the Toronto Maple Leafs roster set to become an RFA/UFA this offseason, there will be lots of changes, however it could stay more similar than you’d think.

Over the past few offseasons, the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t been shy at letting players walk in free agency. When you have four forwards making up almost 50 percent of the salary cap, you can’t get into a bidding war with other organizations.

For the most part, the team has been right in their decisions to let players walk or have traded them at the right time. Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen, Zach Hyman James van Riemsdyk and Connor Brown are just a few examples of players who the team got rid of before their contracts became over-valued.

Even though Zach Hyman is thriving in Edmonton, it was the right move to walk away from him based on his $5.5M AAV salary. For $950K, the Leafs have been able to get similar production out of Michael Bunting, so they’ve done a great job a replacing him for 20 percent of the price.

If you look at the Leafs roster for next year, the team is roughly tied to $72M, with the salary-cap projected to rise to as high as $86.5M. Toronto already has six NHL defenseman signed, so they’re almost set there, but they still need to find a starting goalie if they don’t trust Matt Murray and will need to round out their bottom-six forwards.

With the 2023-24 season being the last year of William Nylander and Auston Matthews’ current contracts, the team will need to capitalize on their lower price-tag because they’re bound for pay-raises and/or could walk in free agency.

Instead of looking to free agency, expect the Leafs to find some talent in-house. Here are three players who could surprisingly return to the Toronto Maple Leafs next year.

TORONTO, CANADA – FEBRUARY 18: Ryan O’Reilly . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Players Who Will Surprisingly Return Next Year

No. 1: Ryan O’Reilly

The Toronto Maple Leafs gave up a lot to acquire O’Reilly and I think they’d prefer that he’d not be just be a rental this year. Instead, it feels like they want him to be part of the program for a few more years.

Coming off a $7.5M AAV salary, there’s no way that Toronto could afford to pay him that, but I’m not sure if anyone in the NHL would pay him that anymore.

That’s a large price to pay for the 32 year old, but if O’Reilly wants to play in front of friends and family every night, he may be willing to take a hometown discount.

With the salary-cap potentially rising another $4M next year, the Leafs have a little more wiggle-room to re-sign O’Reilly.

As a result, I believe that they’ll be able to come to an agreement and have him stick around with the club for a few more years.

I’m not going to predict exact costs, but O’Reilly is clearly someone who can help this team win and if he performs well in the playoffs, the team will want him back.

TORONTO, ON – MARCH 31: Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Justin Holl

If Cody Ceci was able to fetch $3.25M in free agency, you’d have to think Holl could do the same right?

They’re both very similar players, with Holl easily being the better option.

With six defenseman already signed, it would seem unlikely that Holl would return to the Leafs, but if Kyle Dubas is still the GM, anything is possible. Dubas is a big reason why Holl has found success at the NHL level, along with head coach Sheldon Keefe.

Once upon a time, the Leafs previous head coach Mike Babcock didn’t believe in Holl, but Dubas and Keefe did and he owes them a lot of gratitude. Will that thankfulness translate into a team-friendly discount with Toronto? Probably not, but I do think he could surprisingly return.

Although he’s found himself as the No. 7 defenseman at times, he’s shown that he can average 20 minutes per night and be a steady NHL defenseman. He doesn’t have a lot of offensive upside, but if he’s using his 6-foot-3, 200 pound frame correctly, he can be a tough player to play against down-low.

There will more than likely be a team that gives him a “Godfather” type of deal that he can’t refuse, but don’t be shocked if Holl is with the Leafs again next year.

Oct 24, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Ilya Samsonov

With only 122 career NHL games under his belt, Samsonov is set to become an RFA next year, but he’ll have to salary arbitration rights, which is always tricky.

However, it’s starting to feel like Samsonov will be the 2023-24 starter compared to Matt Murray right now.

Murray hasn’t been terrible this year, but his health has been the biggest question and many would put Samsonov ahead of him in the depth chart.

With a 23-8-2 record, .915 SV% and 2.41 GAA. he’s done everything you could ask thus far.

Speaking of health, that’s the main reason why I think the Leafs will keep Samsonov and move on from Murray.

I know that Murray has the track-record for playoff success, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy in a few years now and who knows what’s going to happen in the playoffs.

If Toronto starts Murray in Game 1 and the team has playoff success, then Samsonov will be gone quickly thanks to Murray’s low cap-hit, but if it’s Samsonov’s job in the playoffs, there’s no way the team could move forward with Murray next year.

Next. 3 Leafs fighting for their job. dark

It would be a little shocking if the Leafs re-signed Samsonov, but my gut tells me he’s their goalie of the now and of the future.

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