The Toronto Maple Leafs signing of goalie Jhonas Enroth on Monday has temporarily put the club over the league’s $73 million salary cap, but that situation is not a concern for the upcoming season.
During the summer, all player salaries count against the salary cap, even those players who have been on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) in the past.
There is no way to know for sure whether the signing of Enroth would have taken place had the Leafs succeeded in adding free agent forward Jimmy Vesey last week, since Toronto would have had space for one professional contract after adding both.
Enroth’s one-year, $750,000 contract now has Toronto $694,084 over the salary cap according to
General Fanager, but their cap amount currently includes the $5.3 million salary of injured forward Nathan Horton, the final year of defensemen Stephane Robidas three-year, $9 Million contract and the $3.1 Million salary of defenseman Jared Cowen, whose June buyout is being appealed.
If Horton and Robidas are placed on LTIR before the start of the regular season, that will free up $8.3 Million in cap space and bring the Leafs well under the $73 Million limit. If Toronto wins the arbitration decision of the Cowen buyout, that will free up even more space.
With 48 pro contracts on the roster, Toronto has space to add players and on Monday extended tryout invites to veteran winger Brandon Prust and defenseman Raman Hrabarenka.
The 32-year-old Prust is known for his combative nature and sticking up for teammates, especially during stints with the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens.
“(New assistant GM) Mark Hunter knows him extremely well from London (Prust played 3 seasons (02-05) with the Knights) and I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with Brandon this summer to hear exactly where his thoughts are.” GM Lou Lamoriello said on FAN 590’s Prime Time Sports on Monday.
Prust showed signs of decline in Vancouver last season and was placed on waivers after scoring one goal and six assists in 35 games for the Canucks, finishing the season with the AHL Utica Comets.
“He wanted to come to camp and he wanted to give it a try and see where he is at. He brings a certain element and there is no risk involved.” Lamoriello said. “His agent is (former Devil) Claude Lemieux, Claude spoke to me about him. We are delighted that he is going to come and we are going to give him an opportunity.”
While this invite could simply be Hunter and Lamoriello doing a favor for a veteran they know, Prust might have a chance at earning a contract if he can prove that he can keep up with the pace in the NHL and provide protection for the plethora of young skill players expected to make the Toronto lineup this season.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Note : Continue to check back to my column on Hockeybuzz throughout the day for the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information
click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»