10 Best Remaining NHL UFAs for the Toronto Maple Leafs

2 – Patrice Bergeron

The Toronto Maple Leafs would benefit from embracing a villain and bringing him into the fold in Toronto.

Not only would it add to the organization’s odd collection of captains, but it would also improve the team’s chances for success. This would involve signing long-time member of the Bruins, Patrice Bergeron.

Bergeron is now 37 and will turn 38 later this July. His age shouldn’t be of great concern for Treliving as the center is coming off of an excellent season. In 78 contests, Bergeron scored 27 goals and 31 assists for a total of 58 points.

While it’s not his best season, which happened in 2018-19 where he recorded 32 goals and 46 assists for 79 points in 65 games, Bergeron has proven that he is still incredibly valuable.

Not only could the Bruins captain create offense, but he’s also one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL. He’s also a veteran voice who can help uplift the locker room. It helps and gives Bergeron credibility that he has the experience of winning a Stanley Cup.

Bergeron has also collected a number of accolades over his NHL career. He has been named the Frank J. Selke Trophy winner six times. He’s won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, the NHL Foundation Player Award, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award. He is even a member of the Triple Gold Club.

While it may sting at first to bring Bergeron to town, his presence on and off the ice would go a long way with the Maple Leafs.