The Toronto Maple Leafs have a different look going into the 2023-24 season.
That’s mostly due to the acquisitions made this offseason. Defenseman John Klingberg, and forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and Ryan Reaves are all joining the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With talent coming in, there are also players who are no longer in Toronto. They include Michael Bunting, Alex Kerfoot, Ryan O’Reilly, Erik Gustafsson, and Luke Schenn.
As much as the team and its players may enjoy a symbiotic relationship, and as much as each wanted to be in Toronto, business takes priority.
The business of the NHL includes a salary cap that just doesn’t allow for some relationships to continue, which forces in-demand players to sometimes find a home with a new organization.
The Player Who Won’t Finish the Season on the Toronto Maple Leafs
This is expected to happen in Toronto. There will be a trade upcoming in order to help the Maple Leafs become cap compliant. The most likely candidate to be shown the door is defenseman T.J. Brodie. That should happen some time before the start of the season.
During the year, expect a transaction that sees one of the Toronto Maple Leafs players moved whose name hasn’t been floated for an expected departure. The player who won’t finish the year with the Leafs is Calle Järnkrok.
According to Cap Friendly, Järnkrok is locked into three seasons with the Leafs with an AAV of $2.1M. While it isn’t a large sum, by getting it off the books, it does give the team some cap relief. Järnkrok is also more valuable to a group who can use him in their top six. Based on the expected lines for this upcoming season, Järnkrok will be in the bottom six. He’s mostly likely to play on the third line.
For other teams who aren’t pressed up against the cap, $2.1M is an excellent salary for a player playing on one of their top lines. Järnkrok has experience in that position and has proven that he is capable. In Toronto, he is surpassed by other talents, pushing him down the lineup.
Järnkrok’s contract was negotiated by Kyle Dubas. This suggests that there is less attachment from GM Brad Treliving. This makes it easier for him to move off the winger and use him as trade bait.
Järnkrok, as commodity, could fetch the Leafs draft pick(s) and/or prospect(s). Alternatively, he could be moved for blue liner, which is a position where the club could use more depth. It’s because the 31-year-old was able to put together the best campaign of his career that he has likely played his way out of Toronto.
Last season, Järnkrok played 73 games where he recorded 20 goals and 19 assists for a total of 39 points.
The Leafs surely hope that Järnkrok is able to have a repeat performance this season. While he will help build the team’s offensive prowess while he remains in Toronto, he will also be helping his stock rise and the price for a return grow.