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The Toronto Maple Leafs went down a different road in free agency after the departure of GM Kyle Dubas and losing a half dozen players on July 1. The club added a right-handed blueliner in John Klingberg (presumably to quarterback the power play), some muscle in Ryan Reaves, and a pair of wingers with skill and sandpaper, but GM Brad Treliving may not be done adding to the roster between now and training camp.
Currently, the Leafs are over the salary cap and into the 10% summer overage, but could alleviate that situation by trading the final year of Jake Muzzin’s deal to a team looking to get close or over the cap floor, trading Matt Murray’s final year at $4.687 million to a team looking for a goalie or buying out the final year and clearing $4 million in cap space this season.
It is not expected that Treliving will be making another free agent big splash, but there are situations out there that Toronto could take advantage of, in terms of getting a player to take a short-term deal to gain exposure and pad their stats as a springboard for a payday next summer with the cap going up.
Here are five potential targets:
1. Oskar Sundqvist - The 29-year-old split time between Detroit and Minnesota last season, has the size (6’3…), versatility (can play both center and wing) and playoff experience (won the Cup with St. Louis in 2019) that could fill the spot vacated by Acciari.
2. Maxime Comtois - Comtois was not qualified by Anaheim after struggling under Dallas Eakins, but at 24, the big bruising winger may be looking for an opportunity to play in a mid-six role and get his career back on track.
3. Austin Watson – A veteran forward who can penalty kill and fits into Treliving’s MO of playing with more “snot…. At 31, Watson might be gettable for a veteran minimum deal.
4. Patrik Nemeth – Nemeth is more of a bottom-pairing defender, but fits Treliving’s physical makeup that Treliving wants on his blueline.
5. Patrick Kane – The three-time Cup winner appears to be waiting till he is closer to being ready to return from hip resurfacing surgery in December. Although it is rumored that he wants to return to the Rangers, the possibility of playing with friend Auston Matthews (even for half a season) could intrigue the 34-year-old future Hall of Famer.
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The Toronto Marlies announced the re-signing of forward Joseph Blandisi to a one-year AHL contract. The 28-year-old recorded 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists) in 61 games last season. He has appeared in 101 career NHL games with New Jersey, Anaheim, and Pittsburgh and registered 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) and collected 227 points (86 goals, 141 assists) in 320 career AHL games.
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