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Leafs Notes: Searching For Draft Capital, Campbell Update |
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Earlier in the week, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported that the New Jersey Devils were interested in acquiring the rights to goalie Jack Campbell to have an exclusive negotiating window before the beginning of unrestricted free agency on July 13th, and on Thursday
Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic indicated that Toronto GM Kyle Dubas has informed interested clubs that they are open to trading the rights to pending free agent winger Ilya Mikheyev.
The 27-year-old posted a career-high 21 goals in 53 games for the Leafs last season and is reportedly looking for between $4-to-5-million per season on a long-term deal, which is outside the price range of Toronto with their main focus being the acquisition of a starting goalie.
GM Kyle Dubas is looking to recoup draft picks for next week in Montreal with Toronto possessing only their 1st, Winnipeg’s 3rd (from the Travis Dermott trade), and their 7th.
New Jersey could include one of their three fourth-round picks in the upcoming draft for Campbell’s rights, and an interested team could send a mid-round pick to the Leafs for Mikheyev’s rights.
Other moves that could help Toronto add draft capital would be trading defenseman Justin Holl. The 30-year-old blueliner would be a good acquisition for a club looking for size and depth on the right side for a cost-effective amount ($2 million) for one season.
Depending on the level of interest, the Leafs could recoup a second-or-third round pick for Holl and fill his spot by re-signing free agent Ilya Lyubushkin or moving Rasmus Sandin to the right side.
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On the latest
32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman theorized that Jack Campbell could follow in Zach Hyman’s footsteps to Alberta, as the Leafs goalie could be a fit in Edmonton as a replacement for Mike Smith. The 40-year-old Smith may end up on LTIR after a number of injuries last season, opening up more cap space to sign a goalie in free agency.
Campbell is expected to draw in excess of $5 million per season on a new deal, an amount that Toronto appears unable and unwilling to pay.
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