With the NHL draft and the July 1st free agent frenzy in the rear view mirror, news coming from the 30 NHL clubs will be less frequent but will still have an impact on the makeup and success of the team they put on the ice this October.
The Toronto Maple Leafs took care of a lot of business this week while the team’s rookies were put through their paces at the Mastercard Center in Etobicoke, ON, hiring two assistant coaches and signing three players to new deals, but there will be a great deal of work ahead for Leafs GM Dave Nonis and assistants Claude Loiselle and Dave Poulin in the coming weeks.
Former Florida Panthers head coach Peter Horachek and Marlies head coach Steve Spott fill out the coaching staff of head coach Randy Carlyle, replacing the trio of Dave Farrish, Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin. Nonis indicated that the club will not hire a third assistant.
The club also re-signed forwards Trevor Smith and Jamie Devane and came to terms with 2014 third pound pick Rinat Valiev on a three-year entry level deal.
Smith agreed to the same one year, $550,000 one-way deal that he signed with the Leafs last summer. The 29-year-old had played only 24 career NHL games with the Islanders, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh before last season and signed primarily to provide leadership as team captain of the young Toronto Marlies, but due to injuries to Dave Bolland and Tyler Bozak early in the season, the Ottawa, ON native was pressed into a significant role with the Leafs and accounted himself well, scoring four goals and five assists in 28 games.
After suffering a hand injury that kept him out of the lineup for 2½ months, Smith returned to the Marlies and was an integral part of their run to the Calder Cup Western Conference Final, with 11 points in 14 games.
Smith’s role as a veteran leader with the Marlies will be even more important now, as Spott moves up to the Leafs and the AHL club goes through a roster changeover with the departure of veterans Jerry D’Amigo and TJ Brennan and addition of youngsters Matt Finn, Connor Brown and Tom Nilsson.
Devane agreed to a two year, two-way deal totaling $1.15 Million and may get a serious look with the Leafs next season. In spite of his imposing 6’5” 217 lb frame and penchant for fisticuffs, the Mississauga, ON native has the speed to keep up in the NHL and could be effective In a fourth line energy role. He also would be more cap friendly at $575,000 per season than veteran enforcer Colton Orr($925,000) or Frazer McLaren($700,000).
The 19-year-old Valiev was selected 68th overall in Philadelphia two weeks ago after going undrafted in 2013. The 6’1” 190lb Russian had an impressive season with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, scoring five goals and 23 assists in 55 games and is expected to return for another season with Kootenay before turning pro as a 20-year-old.
The Leafs have five restricted free agents to sign before training camp in mid-September. Carter Ashton, Peter Holland and Jake Gardiner are coming off entry-level deals and are not expected to be difficult to get under contract on short-term bridge deals. Veterans Cody Franson and James Reimer are scheduled for salary arbitration later this month and the arbitrator’s decision could factor into their future in Toronto.
Franson led the Leafs in defensive scoring(33 points in 79 games) but had a horrific year defensively(a club-worst -20 plus/minus). Since offensive statistics have traditionally been looked more favorably in arbitration, it is possible that Franson could get an award of $3 Million or more.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated on Calgary’s Boomer and Rhett morning show Thursday that he believes that there will be a parting of the ways between the Leafs and Franson in the near future(likely due to the acquisition of right-handed defensemen Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak and young Petter Granberg nearly ready for the NHL) and that the Flames could have significant interest in him.
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