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With the opening of the NHL buyout window last Friday and the opening salvo being Vancouver’s buyout of the last four years of Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s deal, no hint or suggestion can be dismissed out of hand. That being said, the suggestion being floated regarding the Leafs buying out the final year of TJ Brodie’s is unlikely and would weaken Toronto’s defense.
"Because you could buy him out and have zero cap" - @JasonGregor on the Maple Leafs buying out TJ Brodie
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) June 15, 2023
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The 33-year-old is in the final year of a four-year, $20 million deal and struggled with injuries last season, missing 24 games. Brodie however can play both sides and is trusted by head coach Sheldon Keefe as a steadying influence.
While the buyout would clear all of Brodie’s $5 million cap hit in year one, it would have a $2.5 million cap hit in year two. The buyout of the final year of goalie Matt Murray would have a cap hit of $687,500 next season and $2 million in year two for a player who the Leafs have replacements for in Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll.
Toronto does not have someone to take the place of Brodie, unless they dip into the costly free-agent defensive market or trade for a blueliner.
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Interesting note from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the Jeff Marek Show on Monday regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs search for an assistant coach to replace Spencer Carbery. Former Vancouver head coach Travis Green may have been in the mix for the Leafs assistant job but reportedly is heading to New Jersey to join Lindy Ruff's staff and replace Andrew Brunette.
Marek indicated that a number of AHL head coaches could be in the mix to replace Carbery, who the Leafs hired after winning coach of the year with Hershey in 2021. Names mentioned were Milwaukee Admirals bench boss Karl Taylor, former NHL head coach and current Hershey coach Todd Nelson, and Calgary Wranglers coach Mitch Love, who lost out to Ryan Huska for the Flames job.
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