Toronto Maple Leafs: 2023 Free Agency Shopping List

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that Brad Treliving is the new general manager, and with the draft and free-agency on the horizon, he’s going to be busy.

Following the draft will be NHL free agency beginning on July 1st, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have a few roster spots that need filling.

The Leafs have 14 unrestricted free agents between their NHL and AHL rosters, and that means that some of them will not return.

Players such as Wayne Simmonds, Zach Aston-Reese, Justin Holl, and Alex Kerfoot are not likely to return.

The Leafs have a list of prospects waiting to earn a roster spot in the NHL next season. Players like Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, and Bobby McMann want to become NHL regulars.

The possible re-signing of Michael Bunting, David Kampf, Ryan O’Reilly, Luke Schenn, or Noel Acciari will depend on how the new GM feels about those players.

Like the case with most free agents, it will come down to cost. The salary cap can only accommodate so much, and some players could price themselves out of Toronto. Before the playoffs, it was likely that Schenn could return for $900,000, but his performance in the playoffs might have boosted that price.

Here’s a list of possible free-agent targets for Toronto this summer.

(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs Forward Free Agent Targets

J.T. Compher

J.T. Compher is coming off the best regular season of his career. He registered 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points in 82 games.

He’s played 70 playoff games and helped the Colorado Avalanche win the 2022 Stanley Cup. Compher is coming off a four-year deal worth $14 million with a cap hit of $3.5 million per season. Teams interested in Compher can expect an asking price of around $5 million a season. (Salary Cap info: capfriendly.com) (Stats: hockey-reference.com)

Ivan Barbashev

Ivan Barbashev registered 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points in 82 games this season. He has played in 68 playoff games and won a Stanley Cup in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues.

Barbashev is trying to help the Vegas Golden Knights win their first Stanley Cup. He has 15 points in 17 playoff games this season. The 27-year-old is coming off a two-year deal worth $4.5 million with a cap hit of $2.25 million a season. Teams can expect an asking price of around $4 million a season.

Alex Killorn

Alex Killorn is coming off his best regular season with 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points in 82 games.

Killorn is an 11-year NHL veteran and has been a thorn in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ side for years. He has played 140 playoff games, been to the Stanley Cup final four times, and won two Stanley Cups.

The 33-year-old is coming off a seven-year deal worth $31.15 million with a $4.45 million annual cap hit. Killorn will be looking for one last big payout to end his career, but his age does play a factor. Teams can expect an asking price between $4 million – $6 million per season.

Toronto Maple Leafs Defense Free Agent Targets

Dmitry Orlov

Dmitry Orlov registered seven goals and 29 assists for 36 points in 66 games between the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins.

He is an NHL veteran with 709 regular season games played. Orlov has played 81 playoff games and won the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018. He is coming off a six-year deal worth $30.6 million with a $5.1 million cap hit per season. Teams can expect Orlov to have an asking price of around $6 million a season.

Shayne Gostisbehere

Shayne Gostisbehere registered 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points in 75 games this season. He has 311 points in 538 regular season games over nine years.

Although he lacks playoff experience (32 games), Gostisbehere would give Toronto a legitimate top-four defenseman. He is coming off a six-year deal worth $27 million with a $4.5 million cap hit per season. Teams can expect an asking price of around $6 million or higher per season.

Carson Soucy

Carson Soucy registered three goals and 13 assists for 16 points in 78 games this season. He is a big stay-at-home defenseman measuring in at 6’5, 208 Lbs. Soucy recorded 143 hits and 96 blocked shots. He is a younger version of Luke Schenn, with more height. There is a lack of playoff experience with Soucy (26 games), but the Leafs could benefit from having a big bonafide stay-at-home defenseman.

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Soucy is coming off a three-year deal worth $8.25 million with a yearly cap hit of $2.75 million. Teams can expect an asking price of around $4.5 million.

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