Major UFA Signing Shrinks the Maple Leafs' Offseason Options
Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
A major signing has put a dent in the free agent market, and it's bad news for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After last year's lack of a free agent market with players re-signing with their teams before becoming available, this season has seen some top talents go ahead and re-sign early in the season.
Martin Necas, a player who has been linked as a potential departure with uncertainty if he'd re-sign with the Colorado Avalanche, who acquired him in the Mikko Rantanen trade, agreed to a long-term deal in Colorado with an eight-year extension.
The move has added an even bigger challenge ahead of free agency for any teams wanting to add through the offseason, and may be cause for concern for some teams relying on it to improve their roster.
Necas Signing Adding To An Already Dwindling Free Agent Class
The signing of Martin Necas is subtracting even more potential free agent options, and lessening the pool of top available players.
Connor McDavid & Kirill Kaprizov are among those who got new deals done before the season started, lowering the quality of the free agency class.
Some key players still remain unsigned such as New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin, and Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz, currently on pace to have a career season.
Still, the pathway to July 1st is still missing some important pieces, and it may lead teams, including Toronto, to not wait until then if they want to act and add a big name.
Why the Maple Leafs' Free Agency Strategy Just Got More Complicated
The Toronto Maple Leafs are beginning to run out of free agency options, and they may need to act fast.
It's the same challenge that existed last season as well, with most of the best with expiring contracts set to hit free agency re-signing with their teams early, leaving limited options on July 1st.
With Connor McDavid already signed, the biggest potential option is off the board, and soon other possible players may see themselves come away with new deals before free agency.
The Toronto Maple Leafs want to improve from their postseason gains last season, doing better than bargain additions, and that may lead them to adding a top player earlier.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to avoid the same problem as last offseason of being too late, they may want to swoop in fast, and may have to act in the trade market to avoid falling behind in free agency again.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 30|1149 ANSWERS Major UFA Signing Shrinks the Maple Leafs' Offseason Options Should the Toronto Maple Leafs trade for a top player or wait until free agency? | ||
| Trade | 813 | 70.8 % |
| Signing | 336 | 29.2 % |
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