Despite snapping a nearly two-decade-long playoff series win drought, the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to shake up their front office. General Manager Kyle Dubas mutually parted ways with the organization. Dubas was quickly replaced by former Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving less than a week later.
After nine seasons of managing the Flames, Treliving now has the unenviable job of trying to guide the Maple Leafs further into the playoffs. This was something Dubas and his many predecessors couldn’t do. Armed with just $9,143,550 in cap space per CapFriendly, multiple unrestricted free agents, decisions around the “core four”, and a looming Auston Matthews contract extension, it looks like major turnover is coming in Toronto.
Treliving’s biggest goal for this offseason is to round out this roster with more depth. With the salary cap only rising by $1 million, he will have to get creative. With such little space, the Free Agency route may not be the best option. Roster turnover seems inevitable after multiple disappointing seasons.
Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Targets
Adrian Kempe
If the Toronto Maple Leafs were to move one of the “core four” it would only seem logical that a legit top-six winger would need to be added as a replacement. With the LA Kings rumored to be interested in RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois, someone will need to be axed for cap space. There is also the possibility of Toronto moving one of their high-priced forwards to LA. Adrian Kempe is a player that Toronto would love to add.
What Toronto gets in Kempe is a bit of a poor-mans William Nylander, but someone who just put up a career-high 41 goals. The left-shot winger has great speed and size and has put up career-highs in points over the last two seasons. He would slide perfectly into Toronto’s top six and would surely get a production bump playing next to Matthews. What may be most important to Toronto is the contract. At 26 years old, Kempe is locked up at $5.5 million over the next three seasons.
The cheapest of Toronto’s highest earners is Nylander, whose $6.962 million cap hit is still well above Kempe’s. In addition, a potential long-term extension could reach well into the $8 million range, something Toronto cannot afford.
Scott Laughton
The Flyers and their new GM Danny Briere seem all in on a rebuild. It would be to no one’s surprise if he were to cash in on a middle-six penalty killer making $3 million for the next three seasons. However, Scott Laughton is a fantastic pick-up for a team in need of leadership, grit and penalty killing.
It was even recently reported by Elliot Friedman that the Flyers have shown interest in Toronto forward Nick Robertson, and Toronto having interest in Laughton in the past. Friedman also suggested that Laughton is the exact type of player that new GM [Brad] Treliving covets.
Laughton is still 29 years old and is on the third year of a 5 year, $15 million contract. He is also coming off of a breakout campaign, where he scored 18 goals and 43 points in 78 games for a struggling Flyers team. Laughton also added 8 points in 10 games, as well as win a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2023 World Championship.
There is a mass exodus of middle-six veterans from Toronto this offseason, so Laughton and Toronto make for a perfect fit. His AAV is a little high, but three years of control for someone who can score 40 points and kill penalties is exactly what the Maple Leafs need right now.
Per @FriedgeHNIC, Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers is drawing a lot of interest. Laughton is great guy, leader who can play at PK & he's also solid 3rd line forward. By the way, he's better as a left winger than center. Signed for 3 next season with an AAV of $3M. pic.twitter.com/9qfi60y7Na
— Andy & Rono (@ARHockeyStats) June 11, 2023
Jani Hakanpaa
The Toronto Maple Leafs have three pending UFA defensemen: Justin Holl, Luke Schenn, and Erik Gustafsson. In addition, there is uncertainty around Mark Giordano as he ponders retirement. The right side of their defense looks very underwhelming with only TJ Brodie, Timothy Liljegren, and Conor Timmins.
Enter: Jani Hakanpaa. He has been a mainstay on Dallas’s backend for the past two seasons, using his monstrous 6’5″ 218 lbs frame to shut down opposing forwards. His defensive prowess would be a massive addition to the Leafs and would give their penalty kill a huge boost. The enticing part for Toronto is his $1.5 million cap hit for the upcoming season. He only has one year remaining before free agency, but it’s all about win-now in Toronto.
The cost for a player like Hakanpaa should not be too high considering his low offensive output and impending free agency. However, Dallas is in the midst of a Stanley Cup window of their own, so it might take a little heavier of a price to bring him in.
Main Photo: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
