The Toronto Maple Leafs will be one of the more intriguing teams to watch this offseason, due to their star pending free agents.
Toronto has Mitch Marner and John Tavares as pending UFAs and Matthew Knies as an RFA. The Maple Leafs could have a much different-looking team next season and are looking at veteran options to fill some holes.
According to NHL insiders Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, the Maple Leafs are linked to signing veteran forward Claude Giroux of the Ottawa Senators, who is Toronto’s division rival.
“Where the Leafs’ focus can and should be at this stage is on John Tavares,” the article read. “The latest word is that the two sides aren’t close on an extension, and Toronto can’t beat around the bush too long here, because there are not many other viable unrestricted free agent centers available.
“Sam Bennett appears determined to stay in Florida,” the article added. “Toews and Matt Duchene have signed elsewhere. Beyond Tavares, the Leafs are looking at Mikael Granlund, Pius Suter or perhaps Claude Giroux.”
Giroux, like Tavares, has made it clear he wants to stay in Ottawa as that is where he is from. However, the sides are still far apart on a contract, which could lead to him hitting the open market.
Giroux has skated in 1263 NHL games, recording 365 goals and 751 assists for 1116 points in his career. Last season, he recorded 15 goals and 35 assists for 50 points in 81 games. Giroux completed his three-year, $19.50 million deal.
Giroux and Senators Still Discussing Contract Extension
After the season ended, Giroux made it clear he would like to re-sign with the Senators.
However, no deal has been made, and with July 1 just a week away, the two sides are still trying to get a deal done, according to insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
“Toews’ bonus-laden deal could be the template for Jamie Benn and Claude Giroux. In Joe Pavelski’s final two seasons, he signed for $6 million and then $5.5 million, including bonuses,” Friedman wrote. “He was older than Benn, but also scored more (although Benn had 49 points this year). I’ve heard Giroux and Ottawa were battling over bonus structure. Pat Brisson, Giroux’s agent, also represents Toews, so you can see what a finished product might look like. Plenty of time to sort this out. This is grind season.”
Giroux is a seven-time NHL All-Star.
Maple Leafs Getting Creative on Tavares’ Contract
Tavares has made it clear he’s looking to re-sign with the Maple Leafs.
Tavares is from Toronto and completed his seven-year, $77 million deal with the Maple Leafs. He will likely take a pay cut, but the structure of the deal has been a sticking point, according to Friedman.
“The word I’ve heard is ‘creative.’ It wouldn’t surprise me here if Toronto is trying to defer money, too. I don’t know that for sure, but I think it’s possible,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts. “But I’ve heard that Toronto is trying to be creative, and right now Tavares isn’t biting on what they’re doing.”
Tavares recorded 38 goals and 36 assists for 74 points in 75 games. In the playoffs, he added 5 goals and 2 assists for 7 points in 13 games.
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