The Toronto Maple Leafs went through the opening days of free agency without adding a player who could make up for the departure of Mitch Marner. GM Brad Treliving made a move to acquire playmaking winger Matias Maccelli from Utah, but has admitted in interviews that he is likely looking to replace Marner in the aggregate, having two or three players make up for his offense.
The Leafs may be willing to start the season giving rookie Easton Cowan or the more experienced Nick Robertson a chance at a top-six role, but if Treliving does not feel that either are capable of playing higher in the lineup, then an answer to their dilemma will either come from the few options left in free agency or in the trade market. Over the next few weeks, we will look at a few players who might be fits for one reason or another for Toronto.
Luke Kunin
Kunin would be a deviation from the plan to acquire a top-six winger if Jack Roslovic or Jeff Skinner’s price tag is too steep or if Treliving does not believe they are a good fit with Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews. The club could see that an internal move like shifting Max Domi to top line winger (as they did late in the season two years ago) is a better option.
The 27-year-old forward was rumored to be an option for Toronto before they swapped with Philadelphia for Scott Laughton at the deadline. The 6’0”, 197 lb. center has played the right side as well in his eight-year career and has scored in double figures five times. Kunin scored 11 goals the last two seasons with San Jose and may be a better fit on the fourth line, allowing Laughton to move up to the third line and recently acquired Nicolas Roy to right wing.
This move would not be as costly as Roslovic, and would give Treliving more flexibility to add other players like Max Pacioretty before training camp, and perhaps others if they clear out the salary of David Kampf or Calle Jarnkrok, but does not provide much in the scoring department to make up for Marner’s departure.
The Leafs may be better off not using up all their cap space in an attempt to plug holes for the regular season, but instead waiting until American Thanksgiving, when teams begin to sell off expiring contracts, or until the trade deadline.
