Maple Leafs Miss Out on Golden Chance to Claim Hidden-Gem Forward From the Lightning
Photo credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
With the waiver deadline come and gone, the Maple Leafs missed a perfect opportunity to add an underrated forward from one of their top divisional rivals.
Often under-utilized, the waiver wire is something that most teams use at least a few times per season whether it's to ease up some cap space, make roster moves, or try and dish off players they don't want anymore.
Though sometimes players have to be waived even if the team really doesn't want them to, and possibly losing them for nothing to another team is a nightmare scenario for any team.
Lightning Forward Placed on Waivers Ahead of Roster Shuffle
It looks like the Tampa Bay Lightning have avoided such an issue with their latest waiver assignment as they placed Mitchell Chaffee on waivers, only for him to clear the next day.
Fans of the Lightning are ecstatic about him clearing waivers, as they find his style of play and team-first attitude something they absolutely love:
What's great news for Tampa Bay is bad news for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who had a perfect chance to add a reliable and physical bottom-six forward who could replace someone like Calle Jarnkrok or Nick Robertson.
Toronto Blanks On Opportunity To Improve Forward Depth
Chaffee isn't going to blow you away on the scoreboard but he does have 16 career goals in 105 games, but it's his physicality and tenacity that really has appeal.
He is averaging 61.75 hits so far in his young career, and had 133 in 66 games with the Lightning in addition to 12 goals and as always, Toronto could use more size.
Although the team already has a logjam up front and with the returns of Scott Laughton eventually, plus William Nylander coming back and the team trying to get their envisioned lineup going; it's hard to find a spot for him.
So it looks like for now the Maple Leafs will need to look elsewhere if they want to add some forward depth, and there are certainly going to be chances throughout the season.
The only question is when does Brad Treliving actually pull the trigger and bring in the pieces they need?
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