The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed restricted free agent forward Peter Holland on waivers. The 25-year-old scored nine goals and 18 assists in 65 games with the Leafs in the final year of a two-year, $1.55 Million contract and filed for salary arbitration earlier this month.
The Toronto native was a first round pick(15th overall) of Anaheim in 2009, acquired from the Ducks in November 2013 for defenseman Jesse Blacker and a 2014 second round pick and had 11 goals and 14 assists in 62 games in 2014-15, but did not appear to be a fit with Mike Babcock's system.
Holland was a healthy scratch early in the year and then used by the Leafs head coach primarily as a utility forward, shifting from his natural center position to the wing and scoring only nine goals and 18 assists in 65 games.
The 25-year-old forward is scheduled for an arbitration hearing on Monday and the Leafs placing him on waivers may have been done to improve their negotiating position on a new deal if they hope to agree on a settlement before the decision comes down.
Holland would be awarded a one-year, one-way deal in arbitration coming off a bridge deal when both years were one-way. After being placed on waivers, it is possible that the two sides might agree on a two-way deal.
Waivers also opens Holland up to the possibility of being claimed by another NHL club, which is a luxury that Toronto has with a bevy of young forwards set to fight for jobs at training camp next September.
With first overall pick Auston Matthews signed to his entry-level deal, Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak and veteran Brooks Laich appear to be four centers that will start the season.
James van Riemsdyk, Leo Komarov and Matt Martin will likely play on the left side and William Nylander, Milan Michalek and possibly rookie Mitch Marner on right wing, leaving Holland, Byron Froese, Joffrey Lupul, the recently signed Josh Leivo, Colin Greening, Nikita Soshnikov, Zach Hyman, newly acquired Kerby Rychel and Connor Brown for three to four vacant roster spots.
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The Leafs have taken care of another of their restricted free agents, signing defenseman Connor Carrick to a two-year(one-way), $1.5 Million contract ($750,000 AAV).
The 22-year-old blueliner was acquired from the Washington Capitals along with center Brooks Laich and a 2016 second round pick (Carl Grundstrom) for Daniel Winnik last February and scored two goals and two assists in 16 games for the Maple Leafs.
The 5'10", 191 lb defenseman acquitted himself very well during the Calder Cup Playoffs, leading the Toronto Marlies in playoff scoring with 18 points(7 goals and 11 assists) in 15 games.
The native of suburban Chicago is expected to challenge for a bottom pairing defense spot during training camp with Frank Corrado, Martin Marincin and veteran Matt Hunwick.
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