Maple Leafs Believed to Have Handshake Deal with Free Agent, Waiting on Cap-Clearing Move
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs might not be done adding a free agent like Jack Roslovic or Luke Kunin, and seemingly have something in place; they're just waiting to make a trade first.
While Brad Treliving and the Leafs have added a bunch of free agents this season, only Michael Pezzetta seems like he'll end up playing on the team, with the others filling out the Marlies roster and adding some much needed depth.
They are still looking to add to their top-six, or at least bring in another offensive presence for the bottom half, and have been linked to names such as Jack Roslovic and Luke Kunin in recent weeks.
Deal or No Deal? Toronto's patience in making a trade
It's strange that they haven't pulled the trigger yet on a deal, and equally as strange that neither man has signed a deal given they are some of the best left, which could potentially mean both are in agreement to just be patient for now.
Toronto has been trying to dump names like David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok for weeks but haven't found suitable buyers or frankly, interested parties.
Their departure opens up the cap and roster space to bring in Roslovic or Kunin and it sounds like when, not if, they'll be signed.
It's feasible for the Leafs to have contacted both players' agents and explained their interest, they are waiting for a deal. We know that Andrew Mangiapane never really got a look, and didn't want to wait around for a deal.
Roslovic is however, and that waiting could very well be due to his desire to play in Toronto and is actively helping them by being as patient as he can.
Toronto can't be too patient, need to make something happen
There is a timeframe for this however, and with us getting into the middle of July, there's only a month and change left before the preseason is upon us, and the roster needs to be figured out by then.
Roslovic makes the most sense given his ability to play in the top-six, his familiarity with Auston Matthews (playing together with the US Development Team) and his ability to put up 20+ goals with great defense, discipline and penalty killing metrics.
He put up 22 goals and 39 points this season with the Hurricanes, a huge bounce back year from 2023-24 where he only had nine goals in 59 games.
Kunin was linked to the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline, but instead was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets where he went pointless; he had 18 points in 63 games with the San Jose Sharks.
A replacement for David Kampf, Kunin adds a much higher offensive ceiling, he hits like a maniac (a perfect fit with Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton), and loves to agitate his opponents.
One knock though is he's not the best defensively, and that's a negative compared to Kampf, though with Toronto going in a different direction; and Laughton being more than capable defensively, Kunin should be able to contribute regardless.
But they need to have either man signed by October, or need to find a way to improve their top-six elsewhere while dumping Kampf and Jarnkrok still.
If Toronto doesn't make a true change; it's just going to be more of the same.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 13 | 3514 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Believed to Have Handshake Deal with Free Agent, Waiting on Cap-Clearing Move Do you think Toronto has an agreement with a free agent and are waiting to trade David Kampf or Calle Jarnkrok? | ||
| Yes | 2677 | 76.2 % |
| No | 837 | 23.8 % |
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