Two free agents are lining up as perfect Maple Leafs fits

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the benefit of a rising cap that could allow for them to have a necessary offseason that has them adding necessary top assets that the team lacked adding this past free agency.

After allowing Mitch Marner to walk to Vegas in the offseason, Toronto did quite little to replace the Leafs star winger, focusing more on quantity over quality, choosing to go with making up Marner's production in the aggregate rather than a direct replacement for the lost scoring.

Toronto added depth pieces starting with Nicolas Roy as the return for Marner, and in free agency taking chances with reclamation options in Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua.

Of course, none of those three were meant to be Marner, but the Leafs themselves haven't been much better.

Regardless of whether the Leafs make the playoffs or not, heading into the Olympics break will be a looming uncertainty until the league resumes and Toronto's roster outlook can change, but their real key to success long-term may come from the offseason.

If the Leafs don't make the playoffs, necessary changes will likely happen, but regardless of how things shake up, Toronto will have to feel the need to be more ambitious after a tumultuous season that hasn't gone their way.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could have fun this offseason, but the key word here is 'could'.

The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be as conservative this offseason as they were last but making the big move they didn't last free agency may be a necessity this time around.

Toronto doesn't have as many free agent options as they would have hoped for as some of the top names have already signed, and with other players likely to do so before July 1st as well. With a $9M increase in the cap for next season, things could be exciting.

Still, the potential of adding a top-line forward is still possible with the current free agency crop. One name could be a very intriguing option for the Toronto Maple Leafs that is younger and could produce on the top line, that being Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz.

The 29-year-old is currently making just under $6M annually, and although he's likely to command a heftier new contract, he may still be cheaper than someone like Artemi Panarin, although at a much more easy cost.

Schmaltz has 22 goals, 29 assists, and 51 points in 55 games, slowing down a bit after a strong start to the season, but rebounding as of recent, including in Utah's game yesterday in which Schmaltz netted a hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a clear need at forward, especially on the wing, but the defense isn't something that could be ignored either. Both will need to be targets of the Leafs whether via trade or signing.

The defensive market isn't as deep, but clear options do exist for Toronto. The big need is on the right side, with the top righty on the market being Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh.

Raddysh was a player who had shown some improved upside last season as his game showed more flashes of offense and more assertiveness in his all-around game. This season has been even more of a revelation as Raddysh has been one of the league's most dominant breakout stars.

The 29-year-old has had a career season with Tampa, a point per-game defenseman for the first time with 49 points in 47 games. Raddysh, a Toronto native, has his contract end after this season, and he's earned himself a clear raise.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been a team where players have gone on to leave the organization after a breakout, only to not be able to replicate their success after leaving.

Recent examples being Ondrej Palat, Alex Killorn, and Tyler Johnson. Is Raddysh next? The likely cost may not be worth it, but Toronto needs to improve somehow.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could solve their holes ahead of time by trading for them, and working on an immediate extension plan.

The one big fish currently on the market is Artemi Panarin. The 34-year-old is likely to be traded at some point this season, but where he'll sign is still up in the air.

Not guaranteed to sign an extension with whatever team acquires him, whether it'd be right away or after the season, Panarin could still be an add for teams who want an impact forward, even if his age at 34 may worry teams about the long-term ramifications that may come from it.

Defense is also an area where there is still intrigue in fixing the team's problems. Dougie Hamilton remains on trade watch, but his recent resurgence along with an injury to Luke Hughes may end up pulling him off the board, or at least out of Toronto's price range.

Despite being traded, Rasmus Andersson didn't sign an extension with the Vegas Golden Knights, leaving him still on path to hit the open market on July 1st. It's unlikely Brad Treliving has given up there.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could also try a dual method, focusing on adding one position at the deadline, and adding another in free agency with the raised cap.

Toronto will not be able to add both Nick Schmaltz or Darren Raddysh, but one or the other could be an assertive buy for a Leafs team that necessarily needs to spend this offseason, regardless of how the rest of this season goes.

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