The Toronto Maple Leafs are urged to sign a former 28-goal scorer who remains a free agent to bolster their offense.
The Maple Leafs are still looking to acquire a top-six winger after Mitch Marner was dealt in a sign-and-trade to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Following the first wave of free agency, NHL analyst Alex Hobson of LeafsNation urges Toronto to sign former Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson.
“If the Leafs want somebody who they can consider a lock to score 15-20 goals, Olofsson might be somebody they consider,” Hobson wrote. “The 29-year-old spent last season with the Vegas Golden Knights after six years with the Buffalo Sabres and notched 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games.
“Like Roslovic, the issue here is the defensive side of the game. Plus the fact that he can only play wing,” Hobson added. “Treliving will no doubt be considering all options when it comes to who can chip in with depth scoring. There might be some familiarity here with former Vegas teammate Nic Roy, but the Maple Leafs GM may be shooting higher.”
Olofsson spent last season with the Golden Knights after signing a one-year, $1.075 million deal with Vegas, leaving the Buffalo Sabres after six years with the team.
Olofsson recorded 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points in 56 games. His career-high is 28 goals, which happened in the 2022-23 NHL season. The 29-year-old is a good second or third-line left-winger, which is an area of need for the Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs GM Wants to Add Top-6 Forward
After seeing Marner, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving says the team is looking to add a top-six winger.
Treliving says the team is looking to make a move to add more offense to the lineup, and that could come through a trade or free agency.
“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said on July 1. “That’s really where our focus is.”
The Maple Leafs did acquire Mattias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth, who could be a top-six forward. But, Treliving isn’t done there as he wants to add another player to add more competition and offense to the lineup.
Toronto has just under $5 million in cap space. Although the Maple Leafs have some cap space available, Treliving says he would have liked to use it on July 1.
“We would’ve liked to use that earlier today. But if there’s not the right fit to use it on, we will take the flexibility.”
Maple Leafs Linked to Roslovic
Along with Olofsson, Toronto has also been linked to Jack Roslovic.
Roslovic can be a good third-line center for the Maple Leafs, and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed Toronto is interested in him.
“It makes sense to me because he has a history with Auston Matthews,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts. “ They played together at the U.S. national development team, so I could see this connection. Roslovic is also a right-hand shot. You know he is a veteran. He’s been around a long time. Matthews obviously knows him. I’m curious to see if that happens.”
Roslovic recorded 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points in 81 games last season.
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