NHL insider David Pagnotta believes the Toronto Maple Leafs are among several teams expected to pursue Avalanche defenseman Sean Walker in free agency this summer.
The Avalanche acquired Walker in a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers that saw a coveted first-round pick go the other way. Walker was very good for the Avs in the regular season, but tallied zero points was a -5 rating through 11 playoff contests.
Still though, he is coming off arguably the best year of his career and it shows as several NHL clubs are reportedly interested in signing him. In addition to the Leafs, Pagnotta also linked the Stars, Predators, and Sharks to the unrestricted free agent.
"Walker, 29, will draw plenty of interest July 1, as teams like the Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks are just four other teams expected to pursue him, in addition to the Canes."
Walker is reportedly hoping to sign a long-term deal that could see him close out his NHL career as he is already 29 years old. It is hard to imagine teams offering more than four or five years on his next deal given his age. According to public projection models, Walker is expected to land a deal with an AAV in the 4 to 5 million dollar range.
18) Sean Walker – D (UFA - $4.56M)
What a rebound year from Walker, who was traded in a deal that got PHI a 1st-round pick. Now he's looking for a longer deal on the open market that should make him at least $20M. He's going to be a reliable piece on the 2nd pairing somewhere.
Walker really rounded out his two-way game this season, potting 10 goals and 29 points as well as a +11 rating, all career highs. As such, his value has never been higher. Perfect timing for the 29-year-old to get a big payday.
Sean Walker (traded to Colorado) is a strong chance-driving defender, having the best season of his career.
Whether or not the Leafs can afford to pay Walker, especially with so many other clubs actively pursuing him, is yet to be seen. Be sure to stay tuned to see where Walker ends up on his next deal.
