A number of Toronto Maple Leafs began skating at the team’s practice facility in Etobicoke, ON this week, as the start of training camp is less than a month away. The club still has some contractual situations to resolve for the upcoming season, as restricted free agents Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson remain unsigned, but if GM Dave Nonis thinks things have been challenging this summer, all he has to do is look at the list of Leaf players in the last year of their contracts next summer to realize that his work has only just begun.
Of the 23 players expected to be on the NHL roster in 2013, seven are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents; Phil Kessel, Jay McClement, Dave Bolland, Nikolai Kulemin, Mark Fraser, Paul Ranger and Dion Phaneuf. Goaltender James Reimer and defenseman Jake Gardiner are also slated to be restricted free agents.
According to Cap Geek, the Leafs have $31,287,500 allocated towards 10 players. It is uncertain how much space Nonis will have to work with, as the salary cap figure will not be determined until after the end of the 2013-14 season, but with the expected increase of hockey related revenue from six outdoor games and other factors, many project that the salary cap will be in the neighborhood of $70 Million, which would give the Leafs nearly $40 Million to get their players signed.
It is expected(in spite of Nonis stating the opposite) that the Leafs will put a priority on getting Kessel locked up, presumably for a max eight year deal in the $7 to $7.5 Million range.
McClement has one year left making $1.5 Million and will likely earn a bump in pay and at least a three year term based on Randy Carlyle’s affinity for his versatile and responsible two-way play.
Toronto traded three draft picks to Chicago to acquire the two-time Stanley Cup winning Bolland, who will make $3.375 Million in 2013. The 27 year old has suffered through a variety of injuries(including back surgery and concussion issues) throughout the course of his current five year deal. Nonis may take a wait and see approach with the veteran center, to see if he gels with his new club before engaging in extension talks.
Kulemin bounced back from a horrid 2012 season with 23 points in 48 games, but unless he finds the offensive punch that saw him score 30 goals three years ago, it will be tough to imagine the Leafs paying anywhere close to his current $2.8 Million salary, which may open up the possibility of heading to the greener pastures of the KHL.
Both Fraser and Ranger were signed to one-year, one-way deals this off-season as possible short-term solutions for the Leafs bottom pairing. They give Nonis a year’s time to allow youngsters Morgan Rielly, Petter Granberg and Jesse Blacker another year of seasoning in junior or the AHL.
Phaneuf is a difficult situation to gauge, as he is the highest paid Leaf but is believed by most of the fan base to be a flawed player who is vastly overpaid. In the wake of escalating salaries for defensemen, such as Kris Letang’s eight year, $58 Million extension and Zach Bogosian’s seven year, $36 Million, it is not out of the question that Phaneuf could attract an offer greater than his current $6.5 Million salary.
If the Leafs are not interested in making that kind of financial commitment to their 28 year old team captain, then you will continue to hear the same trade rumors that popped up at the Draft throughout the season leading up to the trade deadline.
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