The Toronto Maple Leafs have scratched another name off their long list of pending restricted free agents, this time signing Andreas Borgman to a one-year two-way contract extension worth $700K at the NHL level.
Borgman, 23, has spent the entire season in the minor leagues after playing 48 games for the Maple Leafs last year, but has been hampered by concussion problems throughout. In 39 games for the Toronto Marlies the Swedish defenseman has 15 points. A deal like this ensures that Borgman will be back with the organization next season, but does nothing to guarantee he’ll see time with the Maple Leafs in 2019-20.
The Maple Leafs signed Borgman after just a single year in the SHL—in which he was named Rookie of the Year—and inserted him into the lineup immediately. His relatively small stature belied the physical game that he brought, as he routinely threw open ice body checks and used his strength to remove opponents from the puck. Unfortunately injury has stolen much of his time in Toronto, something he’ll have to avoid in the future in order to climb the depth chart once again. The Maple Leafs already project to have three top options—Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin and Travis Dermott—plugged into the left side for next season, with others like Calle Rosen and even Rasmus Sandin battling for opportunities.
The Maple Leafs have made a concerted effort to sign their depth options to inexpensive contracts over the last few months, inking the likes of Rosen, Trevor Moore, Garret Sparks and now Borgman to contracts with a cap hit under $800K. That is obviously what the team will continue to have to do in order to stay cap compliant, given the high prices of their star talent. Toronto now has ten players scheduled to become restricted free agents this summer, including Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson.
Gardiner replacement? They’re going to need some minimum contracts to stay underneath the cap next season.
the league minimum next season is 700k.
And yes all these guys sig ing cheap and two right handed shot rookie level contracts coming up means Gardiner is gone.
Good move should have been up playing this season though. They need his brand of physicality on the backend. I’ll be glad when he is his defensive game and mistakes he make are awful.
-5 in game 7 enough said good riddance!!!!!
Who cares. Choke in playoffs. All Canadian teams blow and will be out first rd unless facing each other.
Will see this year may be different. I know it’s been since 93 when the habs won. I’m sure most of us are sick of watching the Penguins. I know I won’t be watching if they make the finals!
Getting sick of watching penguins in playoffs is like hating gs in the nba finals. It doesn’t happen lol. If Toronto is going to win it has to be this year. I feel one of the core players will be gone. They have immense talent just can’t get it done under pressure.
You have to figure if any Canadian team goes all the way, it’ll be Winnipeg or Calgary. The roads for Toronto and potentially Montreal just seem to be insurmountable this year, as they have seemed for a couple of years in the difficult Atlantic Division. Anything’s possible though, I just don’t see Toronto getting through both Boston and Tampa Bay, especially without home-ice in both.
For some. I’m sick of seeing Lebron period likely this year he won’t make the playoffs! I doubt it will be this year with the weak defence we will have our hands full likely with Boston again. I want Nylander traded he’s “soft”. Rely too much on Freddie .