Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
In the wake of the Toronto Maple Leafs early exit for the fourth year in a row, GM Kyle Dubas faces another offseason of uncertainty and a fan base eager for positive results. In spite of expressing confidence in the club’s core group, Dubas faces a number of decisions necessitated by contracts expiring and a need for improvement. The Leafs got started reshuffling the roster with the trade of Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, but more changes may be coming and they could include center Alex Kerfoot. The 26-year-old was signed as a free agent by the Colorado Avalanche after four seasons at Harvard University and scored over 40 points in two seasons before being dealt to the Leafs in July 2019 along with defenseman Tyson Barrie for Nazem Kadri. Kerfoot signed a four-year, $14 Million contract extension after the trade and slotted in as the club’s third-line center behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares. The Vancouver native struggled after suffering dental fractures in November and was moved to left wing with Tavares after injuries to Ilya Mikheyev and Andreas Johnsson, but was more effective up the middle. In 65 games, he had 28 points (9 goals, 19 assists).
In the playoffs, the speedy pivot was used as part of the Toronto penalty-killing unit to win faceoffs and posted three assists in five games playing most with Kapanen and rookie Nick Robertson.
With the salary cap remaining at $81.5 Million and Toronto in need of upgrading their blueline, the question is whether Dubas can afford to pay a third-line center $3.5 Million with his top two centers making close to $23 Million annually. The Leafs may believe that Pierre Engvall or Adam Brooks are acceptable and more cost-effective options, that they can get another season out of veteran Jason Spezza, or possibly bring in short-term answers in free agency such as Vladislav Namestnikov or Joe Thornton, but that would only be in the case that trading Kerfoot would bring back a comparably priced defenseman under contract for the next few years. *******
The Convo is new on Podcast@MikeInBuffalo @TheLeafsConvo2 https://t.co/RcFn9fNk35
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) August 26, 2020