Leafs Hit with an RFA Reality Check in the Middle of Offseason Moves
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs were given a dose of reality when it comes to potentially acquiring a restricted free agent from The Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco, as their hope to add a top-six force slims.
There's been a lot of talk recently about potential RFA's re-signing their deals, or if those young stars are going to demand a trip out of town, and put their current teams in a bit of a bind.
A Sudden Change in the Offseason Landscape
The Toronto Maple Leafs could certainly use one of the several RFA's available however they all come with varying costs that range from reasonable to downright absurd, and they have been linked to guys like Marco Rossi and Connor Zary.
Their signings could facilitate the beginning of the second wave of the NHL offseason, but it also shows that these young stars aren't just going to sit by the wayside and take what they can get; they want to be paid.
However, there's one player who the Maple Leafs should target who would add a brand new dynamic and some serious firepower: Mason McTavish.
Why One RFA May Be Slipping Out of Reach
According to Anthony Di Marco of The Daily Faceoff, the reason McTavish hasn't signed isn't due to a lack of interest from the Anaheim Ducks, and he obviously wants to stay as long as he's paid well; but it's because of Pat Verbeek's notorious negotiation tactics:
I really can't see a world in which Ducks GM Pat Verbeek moves off of Mason McTavish.
Verbeek, who learned under Steve Yzerman, is a notorious tough negotiator, so this may just be common practice for him.
But given McTavish's (projected) long-term role with the Ducks, it may be a situation where Verbeek is flying too close to the sun.
I don't think the Ducks will move McTavish, especially considering the fact that they moved on from Zegras in large part to the former's long-term role with the club.
My best guess is that a bridge deal ultimately gets done, but Verbeek would be best served to make sure things don't go sideways to the point where the player's long term future with the club could come into question.
Verbeek, who learned under Steve Yzerman, is a notorious tough negotiator, so this may just be common practice for him.
But given McTavish's (projected) long-term role with the Ducks, it may be a situation where Verbeek is flying too close to the sun.
I don't think the Ducks will move McTavish, especially considering the fact that they moved on from Zegras in large part to the former's long-term role with the club.
My best guess is that a bridge deal ultimately gets done, but Verbeek would be best served to make sure things don't go sideways to the point where the player's long term future with the club could come into question.
It would be a bit wild for Anaheim to give up on McTavish so early, and the fact he is only 22 years old means he has at least a half decade before he's even in his prime; and who knows how good he'll be by then.
He broke out last season, with 52 points in 76 games (22 goals, 30 assists) while also adding 38 PIM, 70 hits, and a plus/minus of zero.
Toronto needs to target him not only for his youth and scoring potential but the fact he is a 6'1, 220-pound power forward with immense upside, but the only issue is that regardless of what the team offers, it feels like no price is good enough.
For the Maple Leafs, it's a hard reality check to know that regardless of what they will do this offseason, it's going to be nigh-impossible to get a deal for a star.
Maybe it's time they decided to go all-in just one more time.
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