With the 2023 Stanley Cup Final wrapped up, trade rumors and free agency rumors will only grow stronger as we get closer and closer to the NHL draft, which is less than two weeks away, and of course the NHL free agency, which is the Saturday after Nashville’s draft.
Earlier today, NHL insider Chris Johnston issued a release The latest episode of The Chris Johnston Show. If you are a fan of the Maple Leafs, Flames, or even just a hockey fan, I highly recommend that you tune in to the latest episode.
About the middle of the episode, Chris Johnston started talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs, and gave some interesting updates about the team’s pending UFAs.
“I understand at this point that some of the veteran players who were with the NFL Leafs like Alex Kerfoot, Justin Hall and Michael Ponting even…they’re not coming back. I think those guys are all going to the open market.”
Now if we’re being honest, are we surprised that Justin Hall seems to be heading to the open market? no. Are we surprised that Alex Kerfoot appears to be heading to the open market? No, but I also wouldn’t have been shocked if he’d re-signed to a shorter deal at a smaller cap. Finally, are we surprised that Michael Bunting looks like he’s headed to the open market? Yes and no.
With Brad Treliving in his position in Toronto about two weeks away, and the NHL draft and free agency about two weeks away, he’s faced with decisions with his new club so far, some very tough ones as well with Auston Matthews and William Nylander both eligible for contract extensions in two weeks.
Going back to what Chris Johnston said about the three Maple Leafs in particular, Toronto will have to somehow address those holes in their lineup in the off-season. Whether they sign men during free agency, trade players, or even use the Marlies, it will be interesting to see what Treliving does in his first season with Toronto.
Alex Kerfoot:
Kerfoot, who was acquired by Toronto during the 2019 off-season, played in 285 games with the organization. He scored 40 goals and scored 134 points in those games with the club. He had his career year during the 2021-22 season when he put up 51 points in an 82-game full season and followed that up with a 32-point campaign last season.
Justin Hall:
Hall was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2016 off-season and did not make his NHL debut until the 2017-18 season when he scored his first career two goals in his first two career games. Hall was never known as a bright, big defenseman who would score a lot of points, but during his six-year career with the big club in Toronto, he played 285 games for the team, scoring 11 goals and 82 points. His career year, as Kerfoot, came during the 2021-22 season when he collected 23 points in 69 games.
Michael Bunting:
Darsa was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2021 off-season and has only been with the organization for two seasons now. He is a late star and didn’t get an NHL appearance until the 2018-19 season with the Arizona Coyotes when he played five games. He didn’t get to watch NHL games again until the 2020-21 season when he caught everyone’s attention by scoring 10 goals in 21 games that season.
He was a UFA Group 6 during the 2021 off-season and decided to sign a two-year contract with his hometown team. He didn’t disappoint at all in those two years, however, during his second season with the team his relationship with referees put him in bad situations and he didn’t have the strongest second half during the season either.
He participated in 161 games with Toronto, scoring 46 goals and scoring 112 points. His career year was his senior season in Toronto when he scored 23 goals and 63 assists and was named a 2022 Calder Cup Finalist.
(All stats from Hockey-Reference.com)