Toronto Maple Leafs Not Only Team in Contract Trouble

Calgary Flames

You have to be feeling bad for the Calgary Flames; just a couple seasons ago they looked like a team that was set to be a Western Conference powerhouse for years.

However, after losing Johnny Gaudreau for nothing, they were forced to trade Matthew Tkachuk and then overpay on a contract to keep Jonathan Huberdeau.  Recently they had to trade their top player Tyler Toffoli before losing him for nothing and he may just be the start.

Now going into the season their next two top forwards behind Toffoli are going to be unrestricted free agents.

Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund both enter the year on the final seasons of their deals.  Both these players have been top six forwards on the team for a half decade, with Backlund for ten years.

Backlund wouldn’t cost too much and the career Flame could get a contract done relatively early, however Lindholm could cost the team upwards of $9 Million to retain.

Where the team could be in a lot of trouble is that three of their top five defenseman are free to sign anywhere after this season.  Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov and most importantly Noah Hanifin are all in the final years of their contracts.  The three of those players averaged 20:30 a game, meaning they took up half the defensive ice for the game.

If Hanifin would hit the open market, the former fifth overall pick is likely looking at a maximum seven-year deal and in around $8-$9 Million a season.  Tanev and Zadorov are both likely looking for 2-4 year deals in around $6 Million.

It is rumoured that the Hanifin contract talks have not been progressing and he could find himself traded this summer.

GM Craig Conroy has some work to do, to not lose an important group.