While the Tampa Bay Lightning completed their quest for the Stanley Cup with a 2-0 win in Game 6 over the Dallas Stars on Monday, 29 other clubs are preparing for the NHL Draft and the beginning of free agency next week and potential trades to address roster and salary cap issues for next season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made one major trade since being eliminated from the playoffs by Columbus, but it is expected that GM Kyle Dubas will be exploring a number of options over the next few weeks. According to TSN’s Trade Bait board, Leafs winger Andreas Johnsson (#21) and goalie Frederik Andersen (#23) among the top 30 possible targets for deals. Johnsson’s availability would likely be linked to Toronto looking to clear his $3.4 million salary in order to add a defenseman or to swap in exchange for blueline help, while Andersen with one year left on his contract would be moved if Dubas is able to find an upgrade in goal with a number of goaltenders available this offseason.
The Leafs may be in on a number of players at the top of the list. Goaltender Matt Murray (ranked first) is being shopping because the 26-year-old is a restricted free agent looking for a payday after winning a pair of Stanley Cups with the Penguins. GM Jim Rutherford’s asking price may be coming down because clubs would not only have to give up something in a trade but also sign the restricted free agent to a new contract.
Minnesota’s Matt Dumba(ranked 2nd) and Buffalo's Brandon Montour (ranked 24th) may be of interest to the Leafs as any quality right-handed defenseman would be, but GM Bill Guerin is looking for a top-six center in return.
Josh Anderson of the Blue Jackets (ranked 3rd) might be a good fit for Toronto with them needing size and physicality on the wing. The 26-year-old is an RFA and coming off of major shoulder surgery and there have been unconfirmed reports that Columbus might be interested in Johnsson to improve their scoring depth.
Alex Pietrangelo is on the list based on the likelihood that St. Louis may be willing to do a sign-and-trade to get assets back instead of letting their team captain walk for nothing as an unrestricted free agent. Teams like the Leafs and Vegas may want to spread the cap hit over eight years.
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