3 Big-Name Free Agents That the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Pursue, 2 to Avoid

Steven Stamkos

Finally, after bringing home superstar John Tavares six years ago during the Leafs big free agency splash in 2018, they will have another opportunity to do the same with another hometown star in Steven Stamkos this time around.

After all, the Leafs did actually consider that option the last time Stamkos was eligible to hit free agency in 2016. That was until the Tampa Bay Lightning successfully re-signed him to a multi-year contract just a couple of days before hitting the market.

Who wouldn’t want Stamkos, who is probably considered one of the most prolific goal scorers currently active in the NHL.

The former two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has topped 40 goals seven times in his career, including twice in the past three seasons. He has also helped Tampa Bay in three successful runs to the Stanley Cup finals, while winning it all in 2021 (the Lightning did also win in 2020, but Stamkos was out with a lower-body injury for the bulk of the playoffs and appeared in only one game as a result).

With 50 goals in his career during the playoffs, Stamkos could definitely help the Leafs, who often became snake-bitten when it came to scoring in the postseason in recent years. (All stats from hockeydb.com and hockey-reference,com)

However, with the amount of mileage put into his body in his 16-year NHL career, having played through an entire season six times, along with another 128 games in the playoffs, Stamkos could be headed towards a steady decline in the upcoming years.

Especially the fact that he will likely be looking for a multi-year deal to finish off his career, it could potentially become an albatross of a contract towards the end of the deal as a result. In addition, when the Leafs got Tavares, he was still 27 at the time, whereas Stamkos is currently at 34 already.

It may be a feel-good story if the Leafs do end up signing him to finish off his career, but for the sake of the team’s success now and in the near future, it may be wise for Toronto to pass on it this time around.