Rumor: Three free agent options to play with Auston Matthews in 2021-22
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, forward Zach Hyman appears to be on his way out of the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason. The 29-year-old forward is coming off a contract worth $2.25 million a season, and his next contract might be worth $5 million or more per season. General manager Kyle Dubas can't do it because of the Leafs' cap position.
With only ten forwards, five defensemen, and one goaltender contracted for next season, the Leafs have roughly $11 million in cap room. With that $11 million in cap space, they'll need to add at least seven players to their roster, and Hyman's asking price is simply too much for the Leafs to consider. As a result, the Leafs may lose a talented forward for the third straight summer due to cap concerns. So far, Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen, and Connor Brown have all lost their caps, and it appears like Hyman may be next.
«Sounds like he's testing the market,» Elliotte Friedman told the FAN 960's The Big Show when discussing Hyman. «I heard they were significantly far apart.»
Hyman will be a versatile forward capable of playing anywhere in a team's lineup, no matter where he ends up. This season, he spent most of his time on the team's first line with superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, scoring 15 goals and 33 points in 43 games. He had 21 goals and 37 points in 51 games the previous season. Who will step up to play on the Leafs' top line alongside Matthews and Marner now that Hyman appears to be out of the picture? Even in his limited price range, the free agent market is likely to give GM Dubas with a few intriguing possibilities.
Tomas Tatar of the Montreal Canadiens comes to mind. Tatar appears to have fallen out of favor with new Habs head coach Dominique Ducharme despite scoring over 60 points last season. Tatar's role has been taken away by rookie sensation Cole Caufield, but don't count off the seasoned Slovak. He still has excellent offensive instincts and is available for a very low cap hit.
Blake Coleman of the Tampa Bay Lightning is almost a carbon replica of Hyman and will likely be available on the free market for half the price. He's quick, skilled, and tenacious in his pursuit of his goals. He fights through checks, digs pucks out of the ice, and absorbs a lot of abuse. If you didn't know who he was before, his game-winning goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final this postseason gave you a terrific introduction to him.
Brandon Saad, Colorado Avalanche is another utility forward with experience playing with skilled players. This season, the pending free agent has played alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and with the Chicago Blackhawks, he was a regular alongside Jonathan Toews. Although his offensive numbers have dipped in recent seasons, he is still only 28 years old and appears to have plenty of gas left in the tank.
Credit: HockeyFeed
