Connor Brown
Projection: one-year, $992,000 AAV
After playing only four games in 2022-23 due to a torn ACL that required surgery, he was able to return to action this year playing in 71 games with the Edmonton Oilers.
His production has not returned to what it once was, scoring only 12 points this season but he has shown positive signs especially in the Oilers Stanley Cup run.
If Brown is healthy enough, he could make sense to take over a spot either to fill a hole left by trading a player like Calle Jarnkrok or to supplement their roster.
He has even shown an ability to play in an increased role throughout an NHL lineup, doing so as an Ottawa Senator where he averaged 18-20 minutes a night. There, he played 191 games and scored 47 goals and 70 assists for 117 points, which averages out to 0.61points-per-game.
At his peak, Brown was a useful middle-six energy winger who could play the penalty kill and provide secondary offence. He even did so with the Leafs scoring a career high 20 goals in his rookie season on top of his impressive production with the Senators.
At this point, it is tough to project if he will ever reach that level again but depending on the price tag, which should not be high, it could be worth the gamble. The Leafs have a need for cheap and useful depth which Brown could provide.