The NHL offseason rumor mill has slowed down lately, with executives and gamers all going their separate methods for the summer time. There isn’t a number of motion, however that doesn’t imply groups are achieved making adjustments. That features the Toronto Maple Leafs who did so much to vary their blue line however are in search of some assist at ahead and may need just a few extra strikes of their again pocket.
Again in March, I wrote that GM Brad Treliving may need had yet one more bullet in his chamber if the Leafs didn’t fare effectively within the playoffs. On the time, I wrote:
“As a result of the cash is dedicated to the highest stars, Fox argues Treliving solely has one bullet left in his chamber that he can hearth throughout the summer time. That will be firing head coach Sheldon Keefe. When requested by Marek if that may be the correct choice, Fox responded, “What else are you gonna do?”
It turned out that Toronto did flop out of the postseason, Keefe was fired and Craig Berube was employed as the brand new head coach. Now, some 4 months later, it’s value asking if Treliving has extra bullets in his chamber forward of a brand new season.
A Potential Timothy Liljegren or Nick Roberston Commerce
Defenseman Timothy Liljegren may nonetheless be traded. He isn’t essentially a lock within the high 4, and his $3 million wage is doubtlessly too excessive for a third-pair defenseman (even in the event you may make the argument that so is Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s deal). Buying and selling him may assist the crew purchase a strong third-line middle or one other top-nine ahead.
NHL insider Chris Johnston remarked in early July, “We’ll see if Timothy Liljegren nonetheless will get traded. I do know he was signed to a two-year extension however I don’t assume you’ll be able to completely rule out a commerce in his circumstance but. They’re nonetheless going to maintain chipping away on the roster.”
Liljegren has been concerned in commerce rumors for a number of seasons. His new contract doesn’t essentially defend him from being a part of future commerce discussions. A lot of this is determined by what occurs with Jani Hakanpaa. Is he wholesome? Is he not? Is he formally becoming a member of the roster sooner or later?
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Like Liljegren, Nick Robertson’s title has been within the rumor mill for years. The largest distinction between these two is that studies surfaced Robertson wished to be moved and was in search of a recent begin someplace else. The Leafs say they need to preserve the ahead and Treliving sees a brilliant future for the participant, however that relationship is on skinny ice. Does a crew that missed out on touchdown a ahead in free company give the Leafs a name? They could.
PTO Candidates Will Be Out There
One of many issues groups will begin to take a look at in late July and early August are potential candidates for skilled tryouts. When free brokers don’t signal offers they usually’re in search of work, these gamers flip to groups who’ve holes to fill and alternatives to make a membership in camp. Toronto will actually take a look at PTOs given their wage cap scenario.
It’s not clear who will probably be obtainable, however the Leafs have a historical past of discovering helpful gamers this fashion. Final season it was Noah Gregor. He wound up enjoying 63 video games for the Maple Leafs. He didn’t get re-signed this summer time, however that’s common. Names like James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Johnson, Justin Schultz, Kevin Shattenkirk and others are nonetheless on the market. The latter two could possibly be intriguing if the Leafs do wind up buying and selling Liljegren and Hakanpaa is a no-go.
Signing a ahead or two to a PTO places strain on the younger guys to earn their spots in camp. That features Easton Cowan, Nick Roberston, and Fraser Minten, all of whom the Leafs don’t need to merely give a spot to.
Leafs May Lastly Transfer Mitch Marner
It appears most indicators are pointing to Mitch Marner staying put, however the massive bullet nonetheless within the chamber can be a commerce that sees Marner moved in a blockbuster deal. This is likely to be the sort of commerce that solely occurs if all different strikes fail or the participant in the end says sufficient is sufficient and finds a crew he’s snug going to.
If the Maple Leafs try to release important cap area, a Marner commerce can be the quickest technique to get from Level A to Level B. It’s actually dangerous and it received’t be simple, however no matter how a lot or how little it will get mentioned over the following few weeks, there’s at all times the chance a commerce comes out of nowhere.