The Toronto Maple Leafs are poised to bolster their defense corps this offseason, with reports indicating they will be active players in the free-agent market.
Former NHL player and current analyst Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Star reported on June 13 that the Leafs are targeting two top defensemen in free agency. The players in question are Brandon Montour of the Florida Panthers and Chris Tanev of the Dallas Stars, both set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
“It’s no secret the Leafs will be targeting Florida’s Montour if the pending free agent remains unsigned after this Cup final,” Kypreos wrote. “Chris Tanev is another name that never left (Maple Leafs GM Brad) Treliving’s radar.”
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet confirmed the Leafs’ interest in multiple top-tier defensemen during his appearance on the Leafs Morning Take podcast on June 12, mentioning Montour and Tanev among other blueliners.
“I think they like (Nikita) Zadorov, (Chris) Tanev, (Brandon) Montour, (Brett) Pesce, (Sean) Walker. I think they like all these guys,” Friedman said. “I did have people say to me—they think Toronto is going to go out to try to get two really good defensemen in the UFA market and they’re going to be a force when it comes to some of those names.”
Kypreos believes the Leafs could sign both Tanev and Montour for a combined cap hit in the $12 to $13 million range. This is feasible given Toronto’s current cap space. PuckPedia projects the Leafs to enter the offseason with $19.7 million of cap space.
“It’s conceivable the Leafs could land both with a combined spend of $12 million to $13 million of the roughly $19 million in cap space that’s available to them,” Kypreos wrote.
Brandon Montour’s Stanley Cup Season & Expectations
Montour, still competing in the Stanley Cup Final with the Panthers, will become an unrestricted free agent if the franchise does not re-sign him before July 1. His current three-year, $3.5 million deal will end with the postseason, and he is expected to receive a significant raise.
The Athletic projects Montour to sign a contract with an AAV north of $8 million, while Evolving-Hockey projects a deal around $7 million per season. In 66 regular-season games, Montour scored 8 goals and provided 25 assists for 33 points. He has also contributed 3 goals and 7 assists in 21 playoff games through Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Despite the Leafs’ interest, Friedman noted that the Panthers might attempt to retain Montour before or after July 1.
“There’s noise being made down here that Florida is going to try to find a way to keep him,” Friedman said. “I don’t think that’s going to be easy, but I think they’re going to try.”
Maple Leafs Could Chase Mid-Season Rental Chris Tanev
The Dallas Stars acquired Tanev before the March 8 deadline, trading for him from the Calgary Flames. However, at 34 years old, Tanev may pose a risk due to potential declines in performance.
“Tanev is perfect, but at 34, there is a risk of his game dropping off at any moment,” Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic wrote on June 6. “That does drive down the price, especially depending on how long the contract is. Finding the right length is key.”
The Athletic projects Tanev to sign a deal for around $5 million per year, while Evolving-Hockey projects a contract around $4.5 million, with slight variations depending on the term. In 75 regular-season games, Tanev scored 2 goals and provided 17 assists, totaling 19 points. He added 2 assists in 19 playoff games.
Friedman highlighted the competition for Tanev’s signature in free agency, noting that the Stars and the Ottawa Senators are two potential suitors.
“Tanev, I know Dallas wants to try to keep him, but I have heard the offers out there are going to be high. Ottawa people are looking at Ottawa might do something for Tanev. So that I think is going to be a big deal,” Friedman said.
As the offseason progresses, the Maple Leafs’ pursuit of top defensemen like Montour and Tanev will be crucial in shaping their defense corps for the upcoming season.
Leave a Reply