Former Maple Leafs Forward's Future in Limbo After Contract Dispute Surfaces

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't hold onto him, Josh Leivo has made quite the career for himself since leaving the organization. After being traded to Vancouver and spending time with the Blackhawks, he moved around the NHL and AHL until finding a home in Russia.

However, that home may be somewhere else this season, as a new report has surfaced that Leivo and his club Salavat Yulayev are having contract issues, with two stories being touted as a potential reason.

The first reason that Leivo may have been terminated was due to his late arrival at training camp, however another refutes that stating his work visa is delayed and since he is a Canadian; it's mandatory in order for him to play there.

Until we have an official announcement from the team we can only think of things as being in limbo when it comes to Leivo and his future in the KHL.

It would be a bit of a shocker for him to be booted out, considering he just set the KHL record for most goals in a season with 49; and was looking to be a star there this season.

Leivo was drafted 86th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2011, and spent six total seasons with the club, registering 14 goals and 28 points in 84 games with the club before being traded to Vancouver for Michael Carcone.

His best seasons came with the Canucks where he had 37 points in 85 games (17 goals, 20 assists) and was part of the Chicago Wolves' 2022 Calder Cup victory where he put in an astounding 29 points in 18 games (15 goals, 14 assists).

While it may be totally possible an NHL team comes calling this season due to injury, it might not be in the cards for Leivo so hopefully he can figure out whatever issues there were and continue playing either somewhere else in the KHL or another place overseas.