Toronto Maple Leafs training is here! The players report today, and before we all know it, there will be Maple Leafs preseason hockey on Sunday, Sept. 22.
Over the last few weeks, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has been busy looking at other players to bring in on professional tryouts (PTO). So far, they have signed Max Pacioretty, Jon Gilles and Steven Lorentz to PTO’s. While also signing restricted free agent Nicholas Robertson and free agent Jani Hakanpaa to a one-year, $1.47 million contract.
These moves by Treliving are designed to create some internal competition in training camp. Last season, the same thing happened, and they traded Sam Lafferty to the Vancouver Canucks for a draft pick to clear cap space. This season, it’ll be no different. If Treliving wants to sign any of the three players who they brought in on PTO’s then he will need to look at other players on the roster who can be moved to clear up cap space to make it all work, unless, of course, someone gets injuries and ends up in LTIR.
The Maple Leafs have a few depth players who have a fairly decent cap hit that could fall victim to the tight salary cap and be on the move, so, let’s take a look at who that could be.
Calle Jarnkrok – $2.1 Million
First up, Calle Jarnkrok, the 32-year-old winger, could find himself on the way out simply because of his cap hit. However, depending on how training camp goes and how well he is liked by his new head coach, Craig Berube, he may have a spot in the bottom-six. Jarnkrok will likely be a Berube type of player; although he isn’t big, he plays hard and forechecks very well. Often times, he uses his speed to get into the play and disturb the opponents. If he can add a bit more physicality to his game, he could end up saving his job with the Maple Leafs.
Jarnkrok does a modified no-trade clause, which according to PuckPedia is a 10-team no-trade list. This shouldn’t make it too difficult for Treliving to find a new home for Jarnkrok, since it gives him 21 other teams to trade with. Last season, Jarnkrok dealt with injuries that kept him out of the lineup for a portion of the season. This could affect his trade value; it is likely that the Maple Leafs will want to recoup draft capital that they lack while trying to clear cap space.
David Kampf – $2.4 Million
Secondly, David Kampf, one of the best centers on the Maple Leafs,…
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