Maple Leafs Could Capitalize on Cap-Strapped Team After Costly New Contract
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs could swoop in and exploit the Dallas Stars dire cap situation in order to bring in a key offseason acquisition.
The Dallas Stars are in a tight financial squeeze as the team attempts to navigate free agency with limited cap space and it being evidently clear the team will need to move on from some key assets to be able to have even a full roster.
Right now, the Stars have just $455k in available cap room after signing forward Matt Duchene to a four-year deal earlier today at $4.5M annually.
Dallas only has nine rostered players sign for next season, and even filling the roster with players at league minimum would be impossible, without a trade.
Dallas is reportedly looking to move players knowing their cap issue will make it impossible to field a full roster, having to make a trade to shed salary.
NHL Insider David Pagnotta refuted rumors about a potential deal for star forward Jason Robertson, reporting that it's more likely that they move other large contracts such as Mason Marchment ($4.5M), Matt Dumba ($3.75M), and Ilya Lyubushkin ($3.25M).
Even if Jason Robertson is off the table, although little can be off the table for a Stars roster stretched to it's limits financially, there are still other options that the Toronto Maple Leafs could target from Dallas to add to their offense.
Toronto Maple Leafs Could Jump On Chance To Acquire Top Forwards From Dallas
The Toronto Maple Leafs could swipe one of the Stars top players as the team is struggling to get it's cap situation under control.
One name that could be on the board is forward Mavrik Bourque. The 23-year-old could be an offer sheet candidate by Toronto.
Bouque had 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games for Dallas this season as a rookie, and was a player drafted by Toronto's current Director of Amateur Scouting, Mark Leach.
However, Bourque is a smaller forward at 5'11, something that goes against GM Brad Treliving's focus on size in the Leafs lineup. Bourque would be a shift in the team's philosophy.
Another option could be Mason Marchment, a more familiar face in Toronto as a former prospect of the Leafs who got four games with the team before being traded in 2020, later becoming a breakout player.
Marchment's father, the late Bryan Marchment, played a season with Toronto in 2003-04 as well.
Mason has the size Treliving would want at 6'4 and 220lbs, although he's a slow skater who lacks much pace, something the Leafs would want to avoid in getting slower already being the league's oldest team.
Is Jason Robertson Still A Possibility For The Toronto Maple Leafs?
Jason Robertson would instantly give the Leafs arguably the best replacement for Mitch Marner being a young forward with top line ability, along with the chemistry of his younger brother Nick already a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The problem with a deal for Robertson falls on the lack of assets Toronto has to get a deal done. They don't have a first round pick until 2028 and lack top-end prospects save for Easton Cowan, who alone does not get a deal done.
The Leafs would have to trade an NHLer as well mostly to Dallas who's both cheap and established. The best player who fits that mold is Scott Laughton, although they already gave up a haul only a few months prior for him.
For the Toronto Maple Leafs, if they were to go to the Dallas Stars and give them some relief cap wise, it likely wouldn't come with a Jason Robertson, but could still net a team a skilled forward to add to the Leafs roster.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 20 | 449 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Could Capitalize on Cap-Strapped Team After Costly New Contract Should the Toronto Maple Leafs try to offer-sheet Mavrik Bourque? | ||
| Yes | 146 | 32.5 % |
| No | 303 | 67.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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