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Offseason Keys: Toronto Maple Leafs

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With the Stanley Cup now awarded, the offseason is now in full swing.  What storylines lie ahead around the league in the weeks to come?  Our Offseason Keys series continues with a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Last summer, Toronto added a pair of key veterans in free agency in Patrick Marleau and Ron Hainsey with the hopes that they would help lead a young team armed with another year of experience to bigger and better things.  They had a strong regular season but were still ousted in the first round.  This summer, the Leafs have plenty of cap space to work with (well over $20MM) but with some young stars in need of new contracts in the near future, they will have to spend wisely.  Getting those stars signed highlight Toronto’s offseason keys.

Extension Talks

Two members of Toronto’s ‘big three’ are still signed for 2018-19 in center Auston Matthews and winger Mitch Marner.  They’re both locked up on entry-level deals at $925K and $894K respectively (plus some performance bonuses) and both are well-positioned to vastly surpass that on their next deals which could impact how they spend their money this offseason.

Matthews, the first-overall selection back in 2016, has lived up to the hype and has quickly established himself as one of the top centers in the league.  Last summer, Buffalo’s Jack Eichel (the second pick in 2015) inked an eight-year, $10MM extension and that’s viewed as the benchmark for Matthews to surpass on this contract.  If he signs this summer instead of waiting for next offseason, he should rival John Tavares for the richest deal signed in the months to come.

While Matthews has received the bulk of the limelight, Marner has quickly established himself as a productive player as well; he actually led the Leafs in scoring in both the regular season and playoffs.  He’s not going to come close to what Matthews gets on his next deal but a max-term deal (or close to it) could check in between $6MM and $7MM, even factoring in the fact that four of the years on that deal are restricted free agency seasons.

Those two pending contracts could add $15MM or more (after bonuses) to Toronto’s payroll for 2019-20 and beyond.  With that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising to see new GM Kyle Dubas look at signing some one-year deals this summer to use their cap room for next season without cutting into their space for the following year.

New Deal For Nylander

The other member of the ‘big three’ is in need of a new contract this summer in winger William Nylander.  He’s also coming off a strong season that saw him amass 61 points for the second straight year; those are his only full NHL campaigns.  He isn’t expected to get quite as much as Marner but he’s still going to get a substantial raise from the $894K AAV (plus $850K in performance bonuses) he made in 2017-18 although he isn’t eligible for arbitration just yet.

There is another interesting decision to be made when it comes to the 22-year-old.  While he has played center in the past, he has spent the bulk of his NHL time on the right wing.  Tyler Bozak is a candidate to depart in unrestricted free agency so there is an opening to be filled down the middle.  Toronto has good prospect depth on the wing but none of their prospects are ready to take Bozak’s spot so they’ll have to decide whether they would like to shift Nylander into that role.  (Rookies Miro Aaltonen and Par Lindholm should battle for the fourth line job but won’t be ready to start on the third line.)  However, given Nylander’s smaller stature, there is a little bit of risk involved in doing so but at the same time, his playmaking skills would be even better utilized at center.  It’s certainly an interesting call for them to make that may wind up being dictated by what they do (or don’t do) in the coming months.

Add A Right-Shooting Top-Four Defenseman

In Morgan Reilly, Toronto has a quality top-pairing defender on the left side.  However, finding a partner for him has been a challenge in recent years and as a result, it should be near the top of the to-do list again this offseason as they won’t be able to fill that spot internally.

Hainsey did a nice job overall playing alongside Reilly this past season.  However, as a lefty, that’s not his natural side to play and there will certainly be some risk in asking a 37-year-old to play upwards of 22 minutes a game again.  Nikita Zaitsev is a better fit on the second pairing and no matter how many times Mike Babcock can get Roman Polak re-signed, he clearly isn’t the answer either.

In terms of their prospects, Travis Dermott is the most NHL-ready and he is also a lefty.  Timothy Liljegren is the ideal long-term fit but he’s not ready to make the jump yet.  (Igor Ozhiganov, who signed back in May, is also right-shooting defender but asking him to jump onto the top pairing right away isn’t realistic.)

In free agency, only Washington’s John Carlson really fits the bill as a top-pairing player and with the pending contracts for their top young forwards, they may have some difficulty fitting in the type of contract that he will undoubtedly command (at least beyond the 2018-19 season).  As a result, Toronto may have to go the trade route to find that fit.  Fortunately for them, the Leafs have a deep prospect pool to work with which should give Dubas some options to work with as he looks to give their back end a much-needed boost.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Nolan Vesey To Edmonton Oilers

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have decided that Nolan Vesey is no longer in their plans. The team has traded the rights to Vesey to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a conditional 2020 seventh-round drat pick. Vesey recently finished his fourth year at the University of Maine, and would have become an unrestricted free agent if he’d not signed by August 15th. Luckily the Oilers took care of that, immediately agreeing to terms with the forward to a two-year entry-level contract.

Vesey, 23, was selected in the sixth round in 2014 but was mainly seen as a way to influence his brother Jimmy Vesey’s decision after leaving school. The older Vesey, who now plays for the New York Rangers, was already rumored to be waiting out his entire college career to reach free agency instead of signing with the Nashville Predators. The Maple Leafs also hired Jim Vesey, father of the two forwards, who still works for the team as an amateur scout. While we’ll likely never know if that was their sole intention when drafting the younger Nolan, it never seemed likely that they would sign him after his brother chose the Rangers in the summer of 2016.

Now Vesey will start his professional career with the Oilers organization, after another solid-if-unspectacular season at Maine. With 25 points in 37 games Vesey actually set a career-high in scoring, but those numbers apparently still weren’t impressive enough to intrigue the Maple Leafs. More likely to spend his career in the minor leagues, he still brings size and a bit of goal scoring ability to the Edmonton system. He’ll suit up for Bakersfield next season and try to prove that he can produce at the next level.

For Toronto, if the conditions are met—which seems likely now that Vesey has agreed to terms—they can recoup some of their losses from the sixth-round selection. Though a seventh-round selection isn’t much, they would have received nothing had they let Vesey walk in free agency this summer. Now they can at least take another swing at the draft in a round that has actually provided a bit of talent for the club in recent years. Garret Sparks, Viktor Loov, Andreas Johnsson were all selected in the seventh, not to mention Carl Gunnarsson who has played 556 NHL games after being picked 194th in 2007.

Poll: New York Islanders’ Next Head Coach

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When Lou Lamoriello cleaned house this week, firing Islanders GM Garth Snow and head coach Doug Weight, it became very clear that the legendary executive was in total control in New York and has a plan to turn the franchise around. That plan now includes hiring a new head coach, which is admittedly more difficult to do at this point in the off-season, but there will still be plenty of willing applicants for the job. However, Lamoriello will turn 76 this year and this is almost surely his last hurrah as the architect of a franchise. As such, the candidates for the Isles’ head coaching vacancy will be limited. Lamoriello seems unlikely to hire a first-time head coach or a more out-of-the-box option. He is likely looking at experienced, veteran coaches and those that the knows and trusts. Here are some of the names who could be considered as the the next head coach of the Islanders:

Barry Trotz: It has already been revealed that the Isles have interest in Trotz if he becomes a free agent after the Stanley Cup Final. The veteran coach does not have a contract in place with the Washington Capitals for next season and could decide to move on, either for more money or a new challenge after potentially winning the Cup. It seems more likely that Trotz returns to the Caps, but Lamoriello would work quickly to lock him up if he chooses otherwise.

Alain Vigneault: Could Vigneault remain in New York after all? The former New York Rangers coach has extensive NHL experience and an all-around good track record of winning with several franchises. He would be a safe pick for Lamoriello as a wise and innovative mind behind the bench. The only knock on Vigneault, like many older coaches, is that he has the reputation of struggling with younger players. There are certainly some promising young athletes on the Islanders’ roster, but one would think that Lamoriello is leaning toward taking the team in a more veteran-centric route anyway.

Brent Sutter: A hiring that would go a long way with lifelong Islanders fans, the former New York captain brings nearly 20 years of NHL playing experience and another five seasons as an NHL head coach to the table. Sutter hasn’t been a coach in the NHL since his time with the Calgary Flames from 2009 to 2012, but in the meantime has been the coach and GM of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. An experienced hockey mind in many ways, Sutter is more than qualified for the job. Add in that Sutter’s most successful seasons as an NHL head coach were with Lamoriello’s Devils and he may in fact be a top candidate. He could even boost his value further if he can bring in brother Darryl Sutter as an assistant.

Sheldon Keefe: Keefe’s name has been a popular one on the coaching market for more than a year now. The head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, Keefe is currently competing for a Calder Cup to add to an already impressive minor league resume. Although the 37-year-old lacks NHL coaching experience, he knows Lamoriello through the Maple Leafs and perhaps no one has a better idea of his coaching ability than the former Toronto GM.

Jay Pandolfo: A Boston Bruins assistant and a long-time Devil during Lamoriello’s reign in New Jersey, Pandolfo is well-regarded among coaches and players. Recently a finalist for one of the biggest jobs in college hockey at Boston University, Pandolfo is searching for more responsibility, as he did as a player and locker room leader with the Devils. Lamoriello may be the man to give it to him. If Pandolfo can convince Anton Khudobin, one of the top goalies in a weak market, to follow him, that only helps his case.

John Madden: The current coach of the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters and a former assistant with the Florida Panthers, Madden was also once a two-way star with Lamoriello’s Devils as well and has an innate understanding of balanced play. Madden hasn’t had noteworthy success as a coach just yet, but seems destined to be a successful NHL coach someday. It would be easy to see Lamoriello trying to get to Madden before his stock rises.

Scott Stevens: It’s unknown if Stevens is open to returning to coaching after resigning from his role as an assistant with the Minnesota Wild in 2017 to take a TV job and spend more time with his family. If he is, Lamoriello could certainly kick the tires on his former star defenseman in New Jersey. Stevens served as an assistant with the Devils for three years prior to moving on to Minnesota and brings a greater understanding of the defensive aspects of the game than perhaps anyone else on this list.

So, who will Lamoriello choose to lead the Islanders into a brighter future?

Draft Day Trade Rumors: O’Reilly, Hoffman, Coyotes, Maple Leafs

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Given the last-place finish of the Buffalo Sabres and the comments made by veteran leader Ryan O’Reilly at the end of the season, it would come as no surprise if the team was to trade away their best player not named Jack Eichel in an effort to build around Eichel and his fellow promising young players. Earlier today, TSN’s Darren Dreger spoke on the extensive demands that Buffalo GM Jason Botterill has for any return in an O’Reilly deal and, while he admitted that a deal is beginning to seem more likely, felt that it would take a lot of work for any team to make a fair offer in Botterill’s eyes. Dreger’s TSN colleague and The Athletic reporter Pierre LeBrun seems slightly more optimistic about the likelihood of a deal. LeBrun admits that O’Reilly likely wouldn’t mind returning to Buffalo, what with Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Dahlin likely in the fold next year and beyond, and the Sabres may not mind keeping him. However, LeBrun opines that if John Tavares re-signs with the New York Islanders prior to the NHL Draft, the top center on the free agent market will be Paul Stastny and many teams would prefer to search the trade market instead, where O’Reilly appears to be the top prize down the middle. Given the Sabres’ desire to add young pieces – picks and prospects – to develop alongside their new, young core, the draft would be the ideal time to strike on an O’Reilly trade. LeBrun goes so far as to say that the Montreal Canadiens have already discussed such a deal.

  • Another player who LeBrun feels is primed to be dealt during or around the upcoming draft is Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman. Hoffman was a frequent member of the rumor mill through the most recent NHL Trade Deadline, but remained in Ottawa, at least for the time being. LeBrun says that those rumors are back in full swing and that he feels Hoffman will be traded at the draft. The Senators are not trending in the right direction and could benefit from both the multi-piece return that Hoffman would command and a reprieve from his $5.18MM salary over the next two seasons. LeBrun notes that the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames were the top suitors for Hoffman at the deadline, but the St. Louis Blues and Florida Panthers were also among a plethora of teams pursuing a player who has flirted with 30 goals and 60 points for three years in a row.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks have already been rumored to be listening on offers for their top ten picks in the upcoming draft; add the Arizona Coyotes to that list as well. LeBrun states that the team has contemplated offers and would consider moving up or down on draft day, depending on how the picks fall. LeBrun believes that GM John Chayka has already spoken with the Montreal Canadiens about a swap involving picks #3 and #5, in case the Habs feel they can get the top center in the draft, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, later on and if the ’Yotes have a preferred choice between potential second overall picks Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina. He also feels that there is a strong chance that they could trade down, given the depth of defensemen in the first round versus the desire of other teams to move up for top forwards. Look for Arizona to be busy on the draft floor later this month.
  • Another team that could be making moves on draft day are the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a mailbag for The Athletic, Jame Mirtle says to expect new GM Kyle Dubas to trade down, perhaps even multiple times, during the draft. When Dubas ran the draft for the Leafs in 2015 he employed this strategy, seen far more often in the NFL than NHL. Dubas traded down twice in order to collect multiple picks in later rounds. In a draft that many feel has a significant drop-off in talent after the first 20-odd picks to a tier that encompasses the next 60 or so picks, if Toronto feels that they don’t have a surefire option at 25th overall, they could swap with a team who has a specific player in mind and potentially grab multiple player of similar caliber later on.

Snapshots: Draft Rankings, Hartnell, Matthews

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The 2018 NHL Entry Draft is less than three weeks away, and teams and pundits around the league are finalizing their rankings. Today, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button released his final list of the top-100 prospects eligible for the draft, and Rasmus Dahlin remains on top. That’s not unexpected, neither is Andrei Svechnikov or Filip Zadina at the number two and three spots respectively.

Where Button’s list may vary from others is where he lists his top two center prospects, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Barrett Hayton. The two young pivots are fifth and seventh respectively, ahead of top defensive prospects like Noah Dobson, Evan Bouchard and Adam Boqvist. Button is also high on towering power forward Serron Noel (#13) and shifty winger Akil Thomas (#17). Joe Veleno, once expected to be selected at the very top of the first round, is way down at #28.

  • Scott Hartnell has begun training for the 2018-19 season, but as Adam Vingan of the Tennessean writes in his recent profile on the Nashville Predators free agent, if the 36-year old forward doesn’t find a contract he’s okay with that too. After registering 24 points in 62 games this season there is still reason to believe that Hartnell can be an effective bottom-six player, but it was just a year ago that he was bought out by the Blue Jackets and had to settle for a $1MM contract. If it is the end of his career, he’ll go out with 707 points in 1,249 games—a great career to say the least.
  • Toronto Maple Leafs fans were up in arms last night questioning what it could mean when James Mirtle of The Athletic reported that Auston Matthews had changed agencies. Matthews has followed his agent from CAA to the Orr Hockey Group, with many pointing to the fact that they also represent Connor McDavid and negotiated his league-leading eight-year $100MM extension. Matthews can sign an extension on July 1st, and could be the league’s next highly-paid young star. While it may not match the $12.5MM/year that McDavid will start earning next season, Jack Eichel’s eight-year $80MM deal is certainly within reach.

Doughty, Kings Progressing On An Extension

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As is always the case, a much-anticipated free agent market loses many top names before it actually opens. As it currently stands, the talent level and depth of the potential 2019 class makes it one of the best the NHL has ever (hypothetically) seen. However, each player in that class can sign an extension beginning on July 1st of this year and has an entire calendar year before they become available. In that time, this epic free agent group could shrink considerably.

One of the top names already seems destined to be removed from the market. For a time, it was believed that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty may test the open waters of free agency and could even be the final piece of the championship puzzle for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Doughty has made it clear in recent months that his preference is to remain in L.A. Now, Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos reports that the two sides are already closing in on an agreement to make that happen. Given that an extension offer cannot even officially be made for another month, this early progress seems to indicate that this deal will get done.

According to Kypreos, the 28-year-old Norris Trophy-winning defender will get a significant raise in his next contract over what is already a considerable cap hit at $7MM. Doughty has gone on the record as saying that he would like to be paid more than Nashville Predators blue liner P.K. Subban, who is currently the highest-paid defenseman in the league at $9MM AAV. Kypreos estimates that Doughty will land somewhere in the $10.5-11MM per year range on a long-term deal, which would make him the new top dog among defenseman – until Erik Karlsson hits the market. While it may seem overwhelming that the Kings would have two players, captain Anze Kopitar being the other, making $10MM+, a rising salary cap would make it much less of a burden than it has been on the only other team in that scenario, the Chicago Blackhawks. L.A. would have two of the league’s best players locked up long-term and would not be as strapped for space to build around them in pursuit of more championships for one the best teams in this century.

Pittsburgh Is Not Looking To Trade Phil Kessel

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Following the recent report from The Athletic’s Josh Yohe that Penguins star forward Phil Kessel was upset about his usage in the playoffs and that he and head coach Mike Sullivan were at odds that had led the team to look at moving Kessel, colleague Pierre Lebrun clarified the situation after speaking with Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford. LeBrun reports that Rutherford feels the rumors of dissension in the locker room have been “blown out of proportion”. If this sounds familiar, it is because Rutherford responded to Kessel rumors similarly last summer and, of course, he was not traded. It appears to again be a topic that is inflated by the media more than it is grounded in reality.

Rutherford tells Lebrun that both he and Sullivan understand that it is Kessel’s preference to play with Evgeni Malkin, but defends his coach, saying “there’s times where they play together, when they’re both really going, and there’s times when they don’t… (Sullivan) believes balance throughout the lineup is the best way to win, and we won two Cups that way”. He continues that “for someone to suggest it’s an issue within our team, that can’t be taken care of or resolved, I don’t believe that’s accurate… I don’t feel that we have to trade Phil Kessel.”

If there is no discourse, why would the Penguins trade Kessel? Yes, there are salary cap concerns, but some of those could be eliminated by the estimated significant cap increase, while others could be assisted by shipping out a less-crucial player like Carl Hagelin or Matt Hunwick. After all, Kessel’s 92 points this season did finish tied for seventh in the league in scoring – ahead of Sidney Crosby – and he was among the league’s best in goals, assists, and power play production. At a reduced cap hit courtesy of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Penguins would much rather keep Kessel and his enormous output rather than try to find a fair return for him. If not for the rumored rift between he and Sullivan, there is little reason they would rush to deal him away. It appears that we can close the book on this hypothetical, at least until next off-season.

Exclusive Negotiating Rights Of 33 Draft Picks Expire

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The deadline for signing draft picks has come and gone, and unless more deals come in after the fact, 33 players—the same total as last year—will see their exclusive negotiating rights expire. With it they will either re-enter the 2018 draft for the final time or become free agents, depending on their age. Adam Mascherin is the highest picked player among those who will be headed back into the draft, selected 38th overall by the Florida Panthers two years ago. Below is the full list of players:

Anaheim Ducks:

F Tyler Soy (7th round, 2016)

Arizona Coyotes:

F Anton Karlsson (3rd round, 2014)
D David Westlund (6th round, 2014)

Buffalo Sabres:

D Vojtech Budik (5th round, 2016)
F Brandon Hagel (6th round, 2016)
D Austin Osmanski (7th round, 2016)

Calgary Flames:

D Adam Ollas Mattsson (6th round, 2014)

Carolina Hurricanes: 

C Hudson Elynuik (3rd round, 2016)
D Noah Carroll (6th round, 2016)

Chicago Blackhawks:

D Andreas Soderberg (5th round, 2014)

Colorado Avalanche:

G Maximilian Pajpach (6th round, 2014)

Dallas Stars:

D Miro Karjalainen (5th round, 2014)

Detroit Red Wings:

D Jordan Sambrook (5th round, 2016)
F Julius Vahatalo (6th round, 2014)

Florida Panthers:

G Hugo Fagerblom (7th round, 2014)
C Adam Mascherin (2nd round, 2016)

Los Angeles Kings:

D Jacob Friend (7th round, 2016)

Minnesota Wild:

D Pontus Sjalin (6th round, 2014)
D Brayden Chizen (7th round, 2016)

New Jersey Devils:

G Evan Cormier (4th round, 2016)

Philadelphia Flyers:

C Anthony Salinitri (6th round, 2016)

Pittsburgh Penguins:

D Connor Hall (3rd round, 2016)

San Jose Sharks:

D Mark Shoemaker (6th round, 2016)

Tampa Bay Lightning:

C Christopher Paquette (5th round, 2016)

Toronto Maple Leafs:

D Keaton Middleton (4th rond, 2016)
F J.J. Piccinich (4th round, 2014)
D Nicolas Mattinen (6th round, 2016)

Vancouver Canucks:

D Cole Candella (5th round, 2016)
F Jakob Stukel (6th round, 2016)
C Brett McKenzie (7th round, 2016)

Washington Capitals:

F Kevin Elgestal (7th round, 2014)
D Dmitri Zaitsev (7th round, 2016)

Winnipeg Jets:

C Jordan Stallard (5th round, 2016)

Schedule Set For AHL Calder Cup Finals

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While most eyes are glued to the Stanley Cup Finals between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals, some other markets may be more interested in what the AHL has to offer. Tomorrow night marks the beginning of the Calder Cup Finals between the Toronto Marlies and Texas Stars, with top prospects and outstanding players on both sides. The AHL released all the schedule and broadcast information for the series, as all seven games will be hosted on both TSN and the NHL Network. The schedule is as follows:

All times CST

Game 1 – Saturday, June 2nd @ Toronto, 3pm

Game 2 – Sunday, June 3rd @ Toronto, 3pm

Game 3 – Tuesday, June 5th @ Texas, 7pm

Game 4 – Thursday, June 7th @ Texas, 7pm

Game 5 – Saturday, June 9th, @ Texas, 7pm*

Game 6 – Tuesday, June 12th @ Toronto, 6pm*

Game 7 – Thursday, June 14th @ Toronto, 6pm*

*if necessary

For more information on specific broadcasters, visit the AHL site for all the detailed information.

Toronto Maple Leafs Re-Sign Kasimir Kaskisuo

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have locked up part of their goaltending depth, re-signing Kasimir Kaskisuo to a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $675K in the NHL. Kaskisuo was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer, after spending the 2017-18 season in the minor leagues. The 24-year old goaltender spent most of the season on loan to the Chicago Wolves, since Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard were given the jobs with the Toronto Marlies.

Signed out of the NCAA in 2016, Kaskisuo may be the forgotten goaltender among Maple Leafs fans. While the other four names ahead of him on the depth chart have found immediate success in Toronto, Kaskisuo has had to battle in different cities to prove he has what it takes at the professional level. Playing for the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL and now the Wolves this season, the Finnish goaltender would need to take some big steps forward to overtake Sparks or Pickard in the pecking order. Either that, or Toronto is thinking about moving one of the two minor league goaltenders this offseason.

Sparks is under contract for another season and has shown he’s ready for the NHL, while Pickard is a restricted free agent this summer. Though the team doesn’t desperately need the former Colorado Avalanche goaltender for their minor league club, he still presents an experienced option to step in and play some NHL games if necessary. Curtis McElhinney, the current NHL backup, is now 35 years old and could take a step backwards at any time. All of this uncertainty is a positive for Kaskisuo, who likely just wants a chance to prove himself for the Marlies.

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