The Maple Leafs focus this summer will be to implement changes to their roster that will enable the club to play the more responsible two-way game that Randy Carlyle has been wanting the current group to play the last two seasons.
The changes will likely not be wholesale and will come internally and externally, as a significant number of Toronto Marlies will get a long look at training camp next September, along with potential additions via free agency and by trade.
Per Cap Geek , the Leafs will have $22.38 Million in available cap space going into the summer, but have a league-low 12 players under contract from last season’s roster. Dave Bolland, Nikolai Kulemin, Jay McClement, Mason Raymond, Troy Bodie and Paul Ranger are unrestricted free agents, with James Reimer, Cody Franson, Carter Ashton and Jake Gardiner restricted free agents.
One factor that will effect what the roster will look like will be the willingness of some players to agree to more cap friendly deals instead of trying to break the bank with the salary cap going up to between $69-71 Million per club.
Kulemin, Ranger and Raymond will most likely be playing elsewhere next season, McClement and Bodie are expected back and should not be expensive to re-sign, while Bolland and the Leafs remain far apart on the term and amount of a new deal.
The 2014 free agent class does not boast a boatload of talent, but that could change in mid-June, as NHL clubs will have their last shot at using the compliance buyouts given to them as part of the 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Toronto used both of their buyouts last summer on Mike Komisarek and Mikhail Grabovski, but many NHL clubs held one or both of theirs in reserve to dispose of cap-crippling deals.
Just as Vincent Lecavalier took a more cap-friendly deal with Philadelphia after his long term deal was bought out in Tampa last July, players suddenly given their freedom this summer may be willing to take more reasonable, short term deals from a new team that will give them playing time and a prominent role.
Potential buyout candidates that could intrigue Toronto include Columbus winger RJ Umberger, LA Kings center Mike Richards and Rangers center Brad Richards.
The 32-year-old Umberger is a five-time 20 goal scorer but sees his role diminishing in Columbus, which prompted the nine-year NHL veteran to request a trade. His $4.6 Million cap hit for another three seasons will be difficult to move, but he could be a solid veteran depth player at half that price.
The 29-year-old Richards has six years remaining on the 12-year contract extension signed with Philadelphia in 2007. Richards was a member of Team Canada in 2010 and had a big role in the Kings surprising Stanley Cup victory two years ago, but his $5.75 Million cap hit may be too high for someone who’s offensive numbers have declined to 11 goals this season.
The former Conn Smythe Trophy winning Richards continues to be a clutch playoff performer, as he scored the game winner for the Rangers in Game 7 against Pittsburgh last week. A buyout would not be an acknowledgment that the 34-year-old center is not a great player, but more because of fiscal sanity, as his current deal has six years remaining at $6.667 Million per season.
The Leafs had interest in signing Richards three years ago for his pedigree and abilities as a front line center. While age would be a consideration, there would likely be a number of suitors lining up to sign him this summer if he is on the market. If Bolland continues to ask for more than $5 Million per season and the price for Paul Stastny zooms to the stratosphere, making a pitch for either Richards could be a distinct possibility.
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If there was any doubt about his intentions for next season, former Leaf Leo Komarov cleared the air.
Leo Komarov reiterates, "Yeah I want to come back" to the NHL. Doesn't know if it'll be with #Leafs or elsewhere. Is UFA July 1.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 21, 2014The 27-year-old Estonian-born forward won a Bronze as a member of Team Finland and scored 12 goals and 22 assists for Moscow Dynamo of the KHL this season.
Signed to a one-year deal in 2013, Komarov scored four goals and five assists in 42 games, but was effective as an energy forward and penalty killer for the Leafs. According to former Leafs assistant coach Scott Gordon, the loss of Komarov and his ability as an irritant hurt the club considerably.
It is very possible that the Leafs will want to bring Komarov back, but it will likely cost them more than the $1.2 Million they paid in 2013.
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