It’s Sunday and we’re in the middle of the off-season. However, we still have plenty of NHL rumours to discuss. It’s now a race to get cap compliant for the start of the 2022-23 season. Teams are going to have to make some hard choices and shed some contracts. One of those players may be Alex Kerfoot and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Today’s NHL rumours looks into what his the next season might bring for him.
All NHL rumours are taken from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Alex Kerfoot Future with Leafs Uncertain
Jonas Siegel of The Athletic looked at what the future may hold for the Vancouver native. Toronto did recently acquire Calle Jarnkrok via free agency and both have a similar profile. Jarnkrok is regarded as a solid defensive player that chip in with the occasional goal.
Does Calle Jarnkrok make Alex Kerfoot expendable to the Leafs? https://t.co/gnXFgWVMqz
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) July 28, 2022
Kerfoot scored 13 goals last season for the Leafs, but one main issue is his contract. The soon-to-be 28-year-old makes $3.5 million for the next season. Jarnkrok is the cheaper option and Toronto is about $1.5 million over the cap heading into the season.
The Leafs do need to get under the $82.5 million cap before the start of the season and trading Kerfoot seems to be the logical choice. Toronto has younger players in the AHL that could vie for the spot. However, Sigel thinks there could be a chance to keep Kerfoot.
Is the Alex Kerfoot Future Still With Leafs?
Kerfoot has been a player that’s been willing to move around the lineup. He’s played every spot in the Toronto lineup, but first-line centre and fourth-line right wing. The veteran does carry some offensive pop that can be useful on a team that’s had trouble getting goals from the supporting cast.
Toronto could also move Justin Holl‘s contract if the right partner can be found. Holl does make $2 million and that would make the Leafs fall under the cap number. However, this doesn’t take into account Rasmus Sandin signing a deal. The restricted free agent has yet to sign a deal with the Leafs this off-season. His cap number has been speculated on in previous editions.
If the Leafs sign Sandin, Toronto would likely have to move another contract. Moving Kerfoot likely spares the headache of having to move two players. However, there’s still a chance Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas could keep Kerfoot around. Keeping Kerfoot would likely require some more fancy footwork, but it is still possible.
#MapleLeafs tally a pair of shorthanded goals to beat #Canadiens 4-2 in #NHL exhibition action in Toronto. Ilya Mikheyev opens scoring 33 seconds in and Alex Kerfoot scores twice in the victory. pic.twitter.com/JHGxsfIYIx
— SportsCentre (@SportsCentre) July 29, 2020
