A few unrestricted free agents that could help plug holes for the Maple Leafs this offseason, some of whom might be familiar faces.
This year's unrestricted free agency class is one of the weakest in a long time. With the cap set to explode, teams are more than willing to extend players on their rosters in an effort to improve asset management, meaning fewer star players are hitting the free-agent market.
With how much the salary cap goes up exponentially year-over-year now, contracts will age better, unless a pandemic takes over the world again.
Now, as with anything, there is probably an overreaction to how thin this class is; there are definitely still solid players who will play roles and could fill some of the holes on Toronto's roster.
Today, we will be looking at five players who the Maple Leafs could potentially pick up who can help the lineup including a few old friends.
Erik Haula gives Toronto the cheap penalty-killing centre the thin market is hiding
Erik Haula is a 35-year-old Finnish center who's in the twilight of his career; the journeyman has played in seven organizations over his 13-year NHL career.
While he projects much more as a third-line or fourth-line centre, he is also incredibly capable as a left winger, providing much-needed depth and someone who can be a backup centre due to injury. Or you benefit as well by starting him outright as your depth centre.
Haula had 38 points last season, 14 goals and 24 assists, and is one of the league's best penalty killers while playing well above-average defence.
This is likely the last pay day of his career, so I expect him to try and chase a bag, but I do see the Leafs, with their cap space, going after someone like this who adds depth, leadership, toughness with his defence, and positional versatility.
A reunion with Bobby McMann gives the Leafs some added familiarity and speed
Now, some of you might immediately think to yourself, 'why?'
Here is why: the familiarity and chemistry will help in the early going; you can deploy him on the first line with Matthews, and you can deploy him as a middle-six winger as well, and his game is speed, which this team at the moment is lacking.
But on top of that, with a better Matthews and potentially a linemate of Gavin McKenna, he is actually a seamless fit for the first line especially when you add in his physicality. If he gets a little meaner, then he could be very dangerous.
On top of that, his level of play when he got to Seattle was better than what he had done in Toronto; at nearly a point per game, he had 10 goals and four assists in 18 games in Seattle, and with a new upgraded head coach, his level of play could be close to what he produced with the Kraken, but look to them to try and re-sign him this summer.
Ben Hutton could be an interesting defenseman who provides size, speed and a touch of scoring
Ben Hutton had his highest shooting percentage of his career last season, scoring six goals and having nine assists on the season, and his team (Vegas) is currently in the Stanley Cup final after firing their head coach, Bruce Cassidy and a dominant performance by Mitch Marner.
Hutton, in his early days, spent time on the power-play in Vancouver, but in his limited time on ice, had his most productive season since 2019.
His puck-moving abilities are underrated, and his size of 6'3 could add some toughness to this defence. However, he has not played a whole lot of games over the last six seasons, the most games he played in a season being 58 in 2021-22.
While Hutton isn't the most sexy name in FA, finding someone who can add value like this for cheap, he is also from Brockville, Ont., so another relatively local player to add to the team.
Reilly Smith is someone in the twilight of his career, and could potentially be someone on the hometown discount radar
Reilly Smith is an aging veteran who still has some gas left in the tank. While he isn't the sixty-point winger he once was, he is someone who is still productive and someone who adds leadership, depth scoring, and a proven winner.
While Smith may chase his last payday, he is someone from Toronto who could add a nice veteran presence and championship pedigree to a team that needs to make an immediate 180 in the standings.
In his limited time on ice this season, he still put up 26 points and could be a Max Domi replacement if he is out long-term, which seems to be the case so far.
Lastly, Scott Laughton comes back to get the second chance he deserves
It is reported that Laughton has enjoyed his time in LA, but we all know he loved playing in Toronto, where he is from.
We also know that Craig Berube did not deploy him correctly at all, and he adds a much needed third/fourth line C, elite penalty-killing ability, and scoring touches.
There is a reason Laughton has been traded for so much the past two deadlines. He is one of the best locker room presences in the league, but under a correct deployment, he is exactly what this team needs under new direction.
Ultimately, this UFA class is thinner than most, but some gems are going forward in this FA class who will add to the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, and with the Leafs having a ton of cap to work with this offseason, we may see them very well go after one or two of these players.
Which forward player would you like the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign this offseason?
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