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Toronto Maple Leafs Not Only Team in Contract Trouble

By David Corcoran

NEWARK, NJ - NOVEMBER 23: Auston Matthews #34 and William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs look on against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on November 23, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - NOVEMBER 23: Auston Matthews #34 and William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs look on against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on November 23, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 15: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres . (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 15: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres . (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Buffalo Sabres

For years, Buffalo Sabres fans mocked the Toronto Maple Leafs for failing to make it out of the first round or have any playoff success, which is comical considering the Sabres haven’t made the playoffs since 2010-11 and have not won a round since 2007-08.

Well, now it looks like the Sabres are finally on the right path, but it is going to cost them.  Right now, Erik Karlsson is the highest paid defenseman in the NHL at $11.5 Million per season, but Buffalo Sabres top defender Rasmus Dahlin may pass that mark.

Dahlin has quietly become one of the best defenders in the entire league and how much it pains a Leafs fan to say it, he is a legit number one defenseman and there are not many of those guys out there.

The benefit the Sabres have is that he is a restricted free agent, however, they better not let him add another season to his numbers and risk being the subject of an offer sheet.

Dahlin plays almost half the game while averaging almost a point per game and could be a future Hart Trophy candidate.  If I’m Dahlin, I am looking for an eight-year deal in the range of Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6M) and Buffalo would be smart to sign that deal.

Batman is always better with his Robin, and for Dahlin that is Owen Power.  Like Dahlin, Power was a first overall selection and is looking like he could be as good, if not better than Dahlin.

In his first full season, Power average almost 24-minutes a game, while being named to the All-Rookie Team and being a finalist for the Calder Trophy.

The benefit for Buffalo with Power’s contract is that although he has one-year left, he is not eligible for an offer sheet.  However, if Buffalo was smart they would try and lock him up now for eight-years before entering the upcoming season or he could be seeing a deal in the $11 Million range next summer.

The Sabres are quickly going to find themselves in cap trouble, but at least it is for a couple top pairing defenseman.

Next. Where Are They Now?: Top 10 Prospects of 2017. dark

While you may feel the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team in contract trouble, there are several other teams that are feeling the same pain.

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