The Toronto Maple Leafs have a chance to add a two time Stanley Cup Champion and multiple time 20 plus goal scorer to their lineup.
St Louis Blues Brandan Saad cleared waivers, and the two sides mutually agreed to a contract termination on Wednesday afternoon, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Saad had this season and next left on his 4.5 million dollar AAV contract, a number that his play no longer lives up to.
The veteran winger had been playing bottom-six minutes with the Blues and managed seven goals, and nine assists in 43 games this season. A drop in production from his 42 points in the previous campaign (26 goals and 16 assists).
Chris Johnson reports that Saad would like to play for a contender and was willing to sacrifice the 5 million dollars he was owed over the next season and half to make that happen.
His suitors are yet to be known, but the 32-year-old certainly brings a winning pedigree to whichever team he chooses.
Should the Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Brandon Saad?
The Maple Leafs are among one of the best teams in the league, at least by the standings, but their goal scoring is concerningly low for a contender, with 154 goals for (GF).
Other teams at the top of the NHL such as the Washington Capitals (174GF), Carolina Hurricanes (171GF), Winnipeg Jets (184GF) and Vegas Golden Knights (174GF), have been scoring at a higher rate.
Adding Saad to their bottom six, who has scored at a 20 plus goal pace since 2018-19, is a low risk move that the Maple Leafs should take a swing at.
His production would replace Max Domi's on a cheaper deal, allowing the Leafs to move his 3.5 million dollar contract in a trade to acquire a third-line centre or top-4 defenceman.
Saad's pure finishing ability would fit nicely alongside a two-way playmaking centre in Minten and skilled Robertson, who can create space for himself one-on-one.
The former Stanley Cup Champion could also share playing time with Max Pacioretty, who has had trouble staying healthy this season. Pacioretty's physical play could also fit on the fourth line with David Kampf and Steven Lorentz, bumping Ryan Reaves out of the lineup more frequently.
Adding a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, Brandon Saad, who can score 20 goals in your bottom six on a low-risk contract seems like a no-brainer for the Maple Leafs, who can use goal-scoring depth. As long as he'll sign for the league minimum, that is.