3 PTO Candidates the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Consider
The Toronto Maple Leafs are almost certainly going to continue to tweak their roster between now and the opening of the 2024-25 NHL season.
Much of the free-agent frenzy has settled down as summer heads into August. This situation means that unsigned free agents will have an increasingly tough chance of finding a job this upcoming season. While teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking to fill in gaps at various spots, the likelihood of a big payday has pretty much sailed.
With that in mind, the Leafs, like every other club, have a chance to consider inviting players to camp on a Professional Try Out (PTO) deal. PTOs are great because they offer both teams and players opportunities to find a match if things work out.
If things don’t work out, neither side comes out harmed. As such, the Leafs should look at the list of available free agents and consider which players could potentially benefit the club for this upcoming season.
The best part is that signing a player on a PTO means getting that player at a highly discounted rate, even at a league minimum, if possible. So, let’s take a look at three PTO candidates the Toronto Maple Leafs should consider for this upcoming season.
Three PTO Candidates the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Consider
#1: James van Riemsdyk
I can just picture some fans rolling their eyes at this thought. But upon closer thought, JVR could be a solid depth scoring option for the Leafs. JVR played 71 games last season, notching 11 goals and 38 points. While he predominantly played a bottom-six role with the Boston Bruins, JVR showed he could still play in the NHL.
That being said, JVR could be a serviceable option for the Leafs on the third line. He could provide depth scoring while helping on the second powerplay unit, given his strong net-front presence. The cost to keep JVR would be around one million per season, if not close to the league minimum. The Leafs lose nothing by inviting JVR to camp, and, who knows, a reunion with JVR could pay off.
#2: Kevin Shattenkirk
Like JVR, Shattenkirk is on the older side but could still contribute. Shattenkirk chipped in 24 points with the Boston Bruins last season. That's not bad considering he's essentially a bottom-pairing defenseman at this point.
Bringing Shattenkirk in would be something similar to what the Leafs did with Mark Giordano. But with the projected $1.05 million cap hit from PuckPedia, it's certainly worth kicking the tires on Shattenkirk. He might turn out to be much better than Giordano.
While expecting Shattenkirk to be the powerplay specialist, puck-moving defenseman he was once was might be a bit of stretch, he could be a solid bottom-pairing option especially if the Toronto Maple Leafs del Timothy Liljegren,
#3: Blake Wheeler
Wheeler had a tough season last year. Injuries limited his playing time, making him largely ineffective for the New York Rangers. Even so, Wheeler produced 21 points. At his age, 21 points is solid production given his bottom-six role.
What makes Wheeler particularly attractive is his experience and league-minimum cap hit. PuckPedia projects Wheeler at about $800K per season. That's not bad, especially if he agrees to join camp on a PTO.
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If Wheeler shows he's got gas in the tank, he could be a solid fourth-line option who could move up if need be. If he proves he's done for his career, the Leafs lose nothing by giving him one last shot.