The Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the more active teams in the offseason, but they may not be done.
Toronto could look to trade away from players, but could also use another top-six winger. With that, NHL insider Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet believes the Maple Leafs will make some more moves before Opening Night.
“I definitely think the Maple Leafs have their work to do here, and I don’t know what their timeline is. But nobody expects them not to do things before the puck drops, that’s for sure,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts.
The Maple Leafs could subtract from their team, trading away the likes of Calle Jarnkrok, Nick Robertson, and David Kampf. Or, Toronto could also add to its roster in trades or free agency, as well.
Regardless, Friedman expects Treliving to make some more moves and add more talent to their roster. Toronto has been linked to free agent forward Jack Roslovic, who remains a free agent, so perhaps that is the move.
The Maple Leafs have just under $2 million in cap space.
Maple Leafs Linked to Trading Robertson
If Toronto does subtract from its roster, Robertson’s name has come up in trade talks.
Robertson and the Maple Leafs settled on a one-year, $1.825 million deal to avoid arbitration. Yet, despite the sides agreeing to a contract, his name has come up in trade rumors and is linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I’m assuming things are going to heat up later in the summer at some point, in all these particular situations,” Friedman said. “I had some people ask me about the possibility of Nick Robertson and Pittsburgh. Obviously, Kyle Dubas knows him. They got the arbitration settled on Saturday at $1.825 million. They’ve got to clear some bodies there, they’ve got a lot of them.”
Robertson recorded 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points in 69 games last season.
Maple Leafs Not Getting Trade Interest in Jarnkrok
Jarnkrok and Kampf were potential buyout candidates this offseason, but the Maple Leafs opted not to.
Instead, Toronto could look to trade them, but the interest in Jarnkrok isn’t much. NHL insider David Pagnotta says that the market hasn’t been vibrant on Jarnkrok.
“As the Leafs try to shed salary and create roster space for other moves, Jarnkrok joins Kampf and Robertson on the Summer Trade Watch List,” Pagnotta wrote. “He has a $2.1M cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list. The market hasn’t been vibrant, to this point, but the Leafs will continue to dangle him.”
Jarnkrok is in the final year of his four-year, $8.4 million deal with the Maple Leafs and doesn’t have a clear path to playing time.
Maple Leafs Have Need for Scoring Winger
If Toronto does make a move, as Friedman hints, it could be a top-six forward.
The Maple Leafs have added more depth players this offseason, but haven’t replaced Mitch Marner, which is an issue for Toronto. Maple Leafs’ general manager Brad Treliving says the goal is to add a top-six winger.
“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said on July 1. “That’s really where our focus is.”
Whether or not that will come by trade or free agency is to be seen. But the Maple Leafs would be wise to add another scorer to bolster their offense.
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