It has been per week for the reason that Toronto Maple Leafs named their new common supervisor (GM), Brad Treliving. He turns into the 18th GM in crew historical past and might be tasked with lastly serving to the crew’s core hoist Lord Stanley’s Mug. His first order of enterprise is to get a contract extension in place for star Auston Matthews and presumably for William Nylander after they turn into eligible as of July 1, 2023. One other precedence is his head coach. Sheldon Keefe is underneath contract for subsequent season and all indicators level to him remaining with the crew and possibly even receiving a contract extension.
In any case that’s accomplished, his consideration will flip to the 2023 NHL Draft and the opening of free company on July 1, 2023. Toronto has numerous gamers on expiring offers, together with Michael Bunting, David Kampf, Noel Acciari and Ryan O’Reilly. Nevertheless, the crew additionally wants to have a look at the open market and see who can enhance their roster, particularly their top-six. Listed below are a number of choices that Treliving and the Maple Leafs ought to take into account signing this summer season.
Connor Brown
Doesn’t all of Leafs Nation wish to see a reunion with Connor Brown? Nicely, it simply would possibly occur. Brown is an unrestricted free agent, which suggests Toronto may lastly convey again a participant who by no means wished to depart. His play is contagious, all the time with coronary heart, physicality, and tenacity. Earlier than he was traded to the Ottawa Senators, he performed up and down the lineup, just like Alex Kerfoot’s function lately.
He additionally had excellent chemistry with Matthews when he performed on the highest line. Matthews appeared to have discovered a brand new Zach Hyman-style linemate in Bunting, however this season proved in any other case. If Treliving can convey again Brown, he may very well be the brand new Hyman, who digs for pucks and will get into the soiled areas to arrange performs for Matthews in addition to rating 30-40 factors a season. Connor Brown, Washington Capitals (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Brown nearly missed the complete 2022-23 season because of harm, which may very well be each good and unhealthy for the Maple Leafs. The nice is they can get him on a less expensive deal, someplace round $2 million-$2.5 million for a season. The unhealthy is his ACL harm may have long-lasting results on his sport, or worse, he may injure his ACL once more and miss one other 12 months. However the good outweighs the unhealthy right here.
Even when he indicators for round $2 million per season, the decrease common annual worth (AAV) will give the crew extra cap area to spend in different areas. The contract construction that Treliving ought to take into account for Brown is $5.5 million over two seasons – $2 million for the primary season and $3.5 million for the second. This fashion, he will get the second 12 months assured with more cash, however the Maple Leafs can improve his wage when the cap will increase in 2024-25.
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Let’s additionally not neglect that Brown is a hometown child who grew up a large fan of the Maple Leafs. Sadly, he was dealt to assist dump Nikita Zatizev’s contract, however he would possibly benefit from the probability to put on the blue and white in entrance of family and friends once more, which makes his return to Toronto this offseason a really actual risk.
Ivan Barbashev
Ivan Barbashev has been enjoying out of his thoughts with the Vegas Golden Knights throughout this postseason run. He has cemented himself as a top-six participant within the NHL and may very well be the participant that every one contending groups have on their checklist this summer season (if he doesn’t re-sign with the Golden Knights). Like Brown, the Maple Leafs have been missing his kind of sport of their top-six.
Sure, they’d Bunting, however he wasn’t the very best puck battler – which the crew misplaced when Hyman signed with the Edmonton Oilers. Including a participant of this magnitude to their high six could be instrumental down the stretch and within the postseason. Like Vegas, Toronto carries numerous expert gamers, and this postseason, the Golden Knights have proven the significance of getting gamers like Barbashev alongside their stars.
It may very well be extraordinarily exhausting for the Maple Leafs to signal Barbashev if additionally they have plans to convey again O’Reilly and Bunting, who will command portion of the crew’s cap area. Nevertheless, with Treliving calling the photographs, this offseason may very well be the one when the group strikes on from most of their UFAs to usher in new gamers to assist the crew.
Barbashev’s asking value may very well be as excessive as $3.5 million over three-five years, which isn’t a foul deal. The one difficulty is whether or not the group could be comfy giving him a five-year deal. If not, would that up the asking value to over $4 million per season? Treliving ought to take into account a contract with a gradual AAV, someplace round $3.75 million for 4 years.
Barbashev is a confirmed winner; he already has one ring and is on the verge of profitable one other. That is precisely what the Maple Leafs’ group wants – skilled gamers who can present the core how one can handle the playoffs with out giving up on themselves. You’ll be able to argue that former GM Kyle Dubas did that, however there have been solely a handful of winners on the crew. Insulating them with veterans who know what it takes can solely assist the group develop.