As free agency approaches, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Mitch Marner won’t be signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and recent reports also suggest that negotiations with UFA veteran center John Tavares are going less favorably. Although it's not a foregone conclusion, the Maple Leafs need to begin planning for a future without their 100-point scorer. With a thin free-agent market this off-season, trades might be what the Maple Leafs explore.
Making matters even more difficult for the Maple Leafs is the simple fact that they don’t have many assets to give up. They are without any first-round picks in the next three drafts and hold just two second-round picks and one fourth-round pick. Acquiring a player to replace Marner will be impossible, but GM Brad Treliving will need to make discount moves to attempt to replicate some of Marner’s impact.
To clear space and regain tradeable assets, the Maple Leafs will need to trade some players away, which will likely be veteran depth players.
Here are three players the Maple Leafs should move on from this offseason:
David Kampf, C
When Kampf first signed in Toronto, he proved to be a valuable fourth-line center, capable of killing penalties and taking on difficult matchups at 5-on-5. Now, after completing his fourth season with the team, he’s struggled to be an impactful player. Down the stretch and in the playoffs, coach Craig Berube elected to healthy scratch Kampf for all but one game.
The 30-year-old has two seasons remaining on his $2.4-million cap hit, and the Maple Leafs desperately need to get off of his contract. Trading Kampf could net a late-round pick in a future draft that the Maple Leafs could hold onto or use to acquire a player.
Calle Jarnkrok, C/W
Similarly to Kampf, Jarnkrok is a fourth-line forward whom the Maple Leafs are paying too much money to. When he first arrived, he was a Swiss Army knife, capable of playing up and down the lineup. Injuries have hampered some of Jarnkrok’s time in Toronto, but with just one point in 12 playoff games this year, the Maple Leafs could get more bang for their buck.
The 33-year-old is entering the final season of a $2.1-million per year contract and could be traded to a team trying to reach the cap floor. With a modified 10-team no-trade clause, the Maple Leafs shouldn’t find too much trouble trying to move him.
Simon Benoit, D
Benoit had a strong post-season, but the Maple Leafs have several players who fit Benoit’s profile on their backend. He brings a physical edge but has cost the Maple Leafs on several occasions with defensive lapses or turnovers. What the Maple Leafs need from their sixth defenseman is a more efficient puck mover to combat the forechecking pressures they receive from teams like the Florida Panthers.
The 26-year-old is under contract for two more seasons at $1.35 million, and while moving him isn’t as vital as moving Jarnkrok or Kampf, the Maple Leafs could find a defenseman who better fits their needs.
NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Mitch Marner And Brock Boeser
Earlier this week, it was reported that Mitch Marner's camp <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-mitch-marner-s-camp-has-not-engaged-with-maple-leafs-ahead-of-free-agency-tenure-in-toronto-likely-over">had not engaged</a> in contract talks with the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs" target="_blank">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>. It seemed certain that the 28-year-old winger would move on to another club when free agency begins on July 1.
With the increased cap space and assets after making these moves, the Maple Leafs should be active in the trade market and could target these three players to improve their roster:
Connor Murphy, D, Chicago Blackhawks
The Maple Leafs have been linked to the Blackhawks’ 6-foot-4 defenseman on multiple occasions, but the trigger has never been pulled. With one season remaining on a $4.4-million contract, now seems like the best opportunity for the Maple Leafs to make their move for Murphy.
The Blackhawks are beginning to integrate their young defensive prospects, which could be the start of a closing window for the 32-year-old in Chicago. The Maple Leafs could also get the Blackhawks to retain salary on Murphy’s deal, and if they retained 50 percent of his contract, he would be on the Maple Leafs’ books for just $2.2 million.
Dawson Mercer, C, New Jersey Devils
Mercer hasn’t been made available by the New Jersey Devils, but reports have stated the Devils are looking at becoming a heavier, more physical team to play against, and Mercer could be someone they are looking at moving.
The 23-year-old is two years removed from a 27-goal, 56-point campaign, but as he’s lost some offensive output, he’s gained defensive fortitude. He’s not a great faceoff center, but the Maple Leafs are lacking a right-handed center, and Mercer could fill that role. His versatility and penalty-killing ability would bode well in the Maple Leafs' middle six.
Earning $4 million a season for two additional years is a safe gamble considering he’ll remain a restricted free agent when the contract concludes.
Jared McCann, LW, Seattle Kraken
Prior to the trade deadline, rumours began to swirl about McCann possibly being made available. The rumours contained some truth as the Seattle Kraken were willing to take calls and listen to offers for McCann, but weren’t actively shopping him. After a move to acquire Mason Marchment, it hasn’t made McCann expendable, but it would ease the loss of the franchise's leading goal and point scorer.
The Maple Leafs, at one point, rostered McCann, but after leaving him unprotected in the expansion draft, the Kraken gladly selected him. With the versatility to play as a center or as a winger, the Maple Leafs would be able to plug and place the 29-year-old in multiple spots in their lineup.
The Kraken will almost certainly miss the playoffs again this season and could retain some of McCann’s $5-million per year salary.
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