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Toronto Maple Leafs: Checking In on Ex-Leafs Around the NHL

By David Corcoran

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 18: Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts to being ejected from the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 18, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 18: Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts to being ejected from the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 18, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Ex Leaf In Pittsburgh

Noel Acciari – Pittsburgh Penguins (3 years, $2M AAV)
Noel Acciari joined Ryan O’Reilly in joining the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 17 to help the club down the stretch drive and into the playoffs.  Acciari seemed like the perfect player the Maple Leafs had been wanting for years.  The Johnston, Rhode Island native had a physical prescience to him and he could also score a few goals.

In just 23 games with the Maple Leafs, Acciari was registered with 76 hits while also scoring four goals.

Unfortunately, the former 20-goal scorer got a lucrative offer from Kyle Dubas who had joined the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Along with a three-year deal worth $2M per season, Dubas gave Acciari an eight team no trade clause for the duration of his deal.

Justin Holl – Detroit Red Wings (3 years, $3.4M AAV)
Many fans thought Justin Holl was overpaid at $2M per season as although he was receiving top four minutes as a defenseman, his skill level wasn’t there.  Holl was a rush killer for his forwards, he struggled at one on one battles in front of the net and had trouble turning right.

Once his contract expired, it did not appear that the Maple Leafs ever tried to bring him back to the team and for the money he got in Detroit there was no way they could justify that contact.  Holl received a 70% raise from his previous contract, along with a ten team no trade clause and now has a cap hit of $3.4M per season.

Luke Schenn – Nashville Predators (3 years, $2.75M AAV)
It was a great story when Kyle Dubas was able to bring Luke Schenn back to Toronto at the trade deadline and he found a nice partner with Morgan Rielly.  Schenn played a very simple game and was one of the better break out passers on the team, while being a calm prescience in his end.

Schenn lacks footspeed and needs to be sheltered in certain roles, but if you give him 15-minutes a night he could play great alongside Morgan Rielly.  Many fans, myself included were hoping to see the former first round pick back with the team expecting him to get a salary slightly over $1M.  However, nobody expected him to get the deal he got from Nashville when he signed for three years at $8.25M.

This is a contract that could potentially hurt the Predators, but as they don’t expect to compete for a couple years, it appears new GM Barry Trotz is paying for good leadership in the room.

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