Maple Leafs Likely To Place These Players On Waivers Today
The final day to make roster cuts has come, and the Maple Leafs are bound to make several moves today. This will include waivers, and there are 5 prime candidates to find themselves on the wire.
Five Waiver Candidates Emerge in Toronto
Expert James Mirtle put it very bluntly - with 27 players still on the roster, the Leafs will make several cuts.
With the emergence of Fraser Minten, even more moves may need to be made.
Five players could hit the waiver wire today - and here they are:
Marlies Likely to Get Major Reinforcement
The options are, in no particular order:
1. Martin Jones. There's been some noise made about carrying three goalies from the media at camp, but with the Leafs' cap situation the way it is, it feels highly impractical. Barring a last-minute injury, Jones should be waiver-bound. The Leafs will have to cross their fingers that the Lightning go another direction and he clears.
2. Bobby McMann. He's been hurt for much of camp, which is a tough break given that I feel like his style of game is going to have converts with the new-look front office. Can they sneak McMann through waivers after he piled up 21 goals in 30 games in the AHL last season? If I'm a rebuilding team like the Sharks, I take a flier on him just for the energy boost. Plus, he's the rare player whose cap hit is actually less than the league minimum because of how the contract is structured.
3. Simon Benoit. The big, physical defender didn't do himself many favours with a penalty-filled game on Thursday. If the Leafs want to carry seven defencemen � and it would make sense given Mark Giordano's vintage � Benoit feels like the next man up.
4. Noah Gregor. Sign him to waive him? Stranger things have happened. Gregor has impressed with his speed, and Toronto could use a few more PK converts. I still think Gregor is in the Leafs' plans, but with Minten impressing, that could be enough to turn the PTO into a PTNo.
5. Sam Lafferty. A week ago, this felt like a long shot, especially given his audition on John Tavares' wing
1. Martin Jones. There's been some noise made about carrying three goalies from the media at camp, but with the Leafs' cap situation the way it is, it feels highly impractical. Barring a last-minute injury, Jones should be waiver-bound. The Leafs will have to cross their fingers that the Lightning go another direction and he clears.
2. Bobby McMann. He's been hurt for much of camp, which is a tough break given that I feel like his style of game is going to have converts with the new-look front office. Can they sneak McMann through waivers after he piled up 21 goals in 30 games in the AHL last season? If I'm a rebuilding team like the Sharks, I take a flier on him just for the energy boost. Plus, he's the rare player whose cap hit is actually less than the league minimum because of how the contract is structured.
3. Simon Benoit. The big, physical defender didn't do himself many favours with a penalty-filled game on Thursday. If the Leafs want to carry seven defencemen � and it would make sense given Mark Giordano's vintage � Benoit feels like the next man up.
4. Noah Gregor. Sign him to waive him? Stranger things have happened. Gregor has impressed with his speed, and Toronto could use a few more PK converts. I still think Gregor is in the Leafs' plans, but with Minten impressing, that could be enough to turn the PTO into a PTNo.
5. Sam Lafferty. A week ago, this felt like a long shot, especially given his audition on John Tavares' wing
Of these players, only Jones is likely to be claimed. The others will head off to the Marlies to help them out in a Calder Cup bid. The Leafs certainly look deeper than they have in a long time right now.
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