Defenseman Alexei Marchenko is heading back to the KHL. The 25-year-old blueliner cleared waivers on Tuesday and agreed to terminate the final year of a two-year, $2.9 Million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Alexey Marchenko of Toronto Maple Leafs has decided to continue his career at home in Russia.He intends to comeback to the NHL in the future
Igor Eronko of Sport-Express says the Moscow native will be signing a three-year deal with CSKA. Other sources indicate the deal will be for a salary comparable to his current NHL deal. Marchenko played four seasons for his hometown club from 2010 to 2013 and likely chose to return to Russia to get regular playing time and have a chance to play for his country in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang.
Marchenko was slated for a depth role with the Leafs or potentially being sent down to the American Hockey League. Head coach Mike Babcock’s pronouncement last week that 36-year-old veteran Ron Hainsey would likely start training camp paired with Morgan Rielly left little chance that the former Red Wing would crack Toronto’s top six.
The contract termination frees up $1.45 Million on the salary cap and gives the Leafs 48 professional contracts; two under the league’s 50-man professional contract limit. There is nothing preventing Toronto signing RFA Connor Brown to a new deal, and now the Leafs have more maneuverability to add another player before the start of training camp next month.
One possible option is 2017 Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher. The 22-year-old blueliner scored 37 points in his senior season for the University of Denver and pursued by a number of teams when he becomes and unrestricted free agent at midnight Wednesday.
Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News reports that the Leafs are one of seven teams that have interest and potentially could offer a good chance of NHL playing time this season.
Butcher would receive the same two-year entry-level contract from any team he signs with, so the determining factor could be playing time and a team’s future prospects to win.
With the Leafs making the post-season, coached by Mike Babcock and with Auston Matthews in the fold, Toronto can make a much more attractive pitch to Butcher than they did this time a year ago when Jimmy Vesey was making a decision on where to go.
If the Leafs miss out on Butcher, they now have space to offer a free agent defenseman a chance to earn a contract after accepting a professional tryout contract. Former Leafs Cody Franson and Roman Polak are still unsigned and may be willing to accept an invite to training camp if they think they can earn a spot.
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