Four Free Agent Targets Emerge for the Maple Leafs to Bolster Center Depth

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is said to be looking to bolster his club's center depth during the upcoming summer, which could potentially also include the loss of veteran center (and former captain) John Tavares to free agency.

With the college season coming to an end, there have been 4 names floated as possibilities that the Leafs could target during the summer currently in the NCAA.

Let's take a look at each of the potential candidates.

Our list starts with University of Michigan forward T.J. Hughes, who recently completed his junior year in the nearby Detroit suburb of Ann Arbor.

Before suiting up for Michigan, he played for the AJHL's Brooks Bandits. Later playing for the Wolverines, Hughes would score 48 points (19G, 29A) in 41 games as a sophomore.

This year, he scored 38 points (15G, 23A) in 36 games. The 6'0, 185 pound center from Hamilton, Ontario has 47 goals and 75 assists in 116 career games with the U of M.

Williams currently plays for Northeastern University, where he recently completed his junior year. He's a bit smaller than your typical Toronto target at only 5'11, but he's got some serious offensive chops.

So far in his NCAA career, he has 39 goals and 55 assists in 106 games, which is exactly the type of offensive Toronto needs, but he needs to get a bit bulkier to earn a spot.

Prior to his college career, he played in the USHL for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. This year with Northeastern, he scored 41 points (16G, 25A) in 37 games.

A junior at Dartmouth University, Haymes also wrapped up his junior year by scoring 18 points (12G, 6A) in 22 games. We previously discussed Haymes' potential on the Maple Leafs, and at 6'1, 203 pounds; he's the exact signing you'd see Brad Treliving make.

Previously, Haymes played for Ridley College before later playing for the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BCHL; his lone year with the Capitals yielded 49 points (22G, 27A) in 52 games.

Returning to Michigan for the last player on the list, Dorwart completed his junior year with the Michigan State Spartans by scoring 27 points (11G, 16G) in 33 games. He works hard, plays every shift equally as hard and you'll see a lot of qualities similar similar to John Tavares.

Before playing with the Spartans, Dorwart played 61 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede, scoring 25 points (9G, 16A) in 61 games.

Toronto certainly has their work cut out for them if they want to sign any of these standouts, but with one big signing under their belt, look for many more potential offers to be fielded in the coming days.