For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter
UPDATE - The Maple Leafs have signed both Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman to two-year entry level deals.
********
Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock indicated at locker cleanout day last month that his presence at the 2017 World Championships was primarily to scout European free agents that Toronto may have interest in signing for next season.
Reports in the last few weeks have linked the Maple Leafs to
23-year-old SHL defenseman Calle Rosen and
and 25-year-old Philip Holm, Rosen’s defense partner with Vaxjo HC and teammate on Team Sweden.
On Tuesday, the Swedish club HV71 reported that 21-year-old blueliner
Andreas Borgman is breaking his contract and heading to North America to sign with an NHL club, but the report did not specify his destination.
The 6’0”, 205 lb native of Stockholm is a late bloomer who went undrafted and played three seasons in the Swedish second tier league before signing with HV71 in 2016. According to
Elite Prospects, Borgman has good skating ability, offensive skills and does not shy away from the physical aspect of the game.
Borgman had five goals and 10 assists in 45 games in his first year with HV71, nearly exceeded his regular season offensive totals in the playoffs, with 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists in 14 games) and was awarded the 2017 SHL Rookie of the Year.
It is quite possible that Toronto could sign more than one of the names they are rumored to have interest in, with Martin Marincin, Alexey Marchenko likely to be exposed for the expansion draft and veterans Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak unrestricted free agents.
Prospect defenseman Travis Dermott has shown poise and maturity with the Toronto Marlies in the Calder Cup Playoffs and has likely earned a long look at training camp next September, but Andrew Nielsen has struggled at times and may need more seasoning in the AHL before he is ready to make the jump.
Any of the European free agent options would be signed on one-or-two year entry-level deals (similar to the deal signed by Nikita Zaitsev last summer), which would allow the Leafs to add a player with some experience to a contract earning less than $1 Million, instead of signing an NHL free agent for likely a higher salary and longer term. They would have the flexibility to move the player between the AHL and NHL without waivers being a concern.
*******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.*******
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:
»