The Toronto Maple Leafs ended the 2017-18 campaign with 49 wins and 105 points. They made the post season but were sent packing by the Boston Bruins in the second round.
The Leafs’ regular season was a success but they have issues on the horizon with players who are in line for hefty raises as future free agents.
This off season, the Leafs will need to make a deal with James van Riemsdyk and that will be a cap hit.
Then consider Austin Mathews and Mitchell Marner will be coming due for the big raises in another year.
Mathews netted 63 points on the season off 34 goals and was a +25 on the season; he missed 20 games on the season because of injury.
Marner was Toronto’s leading scorer with 69 points on 22 goals and was a -1.
The ageless Patrick Marleau skated in all 82 games in the regular season and potted 27 goals and 47 points on the season.
In addition to van Riemsdyk, Toronto has five other unrestricted free agents including Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov, Dominic Moore, Tomas Plekanec and Roman Polak. The Leafs have made no noise about not signing any of them.
Kyle Dubas was hired as the new Leafs’ general manager and was quick to make comments about his free agents.
“We haven’t closed the door on anything here whatsoever. We continue to stay in touch with those players.” Dubas said on TSN Radio recently. “They have helped push (our club) ahead and have some success the last couple years in the regular season and get back into the playoffs.”
Add in that the Toronto Marlies won the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup over the Texas Stars in seven games and the Maple Leafs are stocked with quality in the minors.
The Leafs are well-stocked with centers throughout the system and may well be looking at wingers. They have a potential prospect in their backyard, the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League.
Winger Brandon Saigeon is a 20-year old with offensive skills and is developed sufficiently to see him move into the Marlies’ lineup this next season.
In 65 games with the Bulldogs, Saigeon netted 35 goals and 70 points. He had 18 goals in 21 in the Memorial Cup tournament this past season.
Saigeon stands at 6’2″ and just under 200 pounds. He has size and skating skills and his scoring touch is natural.
Saigeon still has one year of eligibility in the juniors but he is seen as a direct move to the minors with a short track to the NHL.
A talented winger in the Maple Leafs’ system would compliment the centers in the NHL roster and give the Leafs that added push if they want to win the Stanley Cup in the next year or two before the salary cap cripples their bank.
With the 25th pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs select Brandon Saigeon from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League.”
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