The regular season is soon upon us, and the Toronto Maple Leafs need to free up some salary cap space. Currently, they exceed the cap by just over $1M. Toronto is still supposed to sign Max Pacioretty from his professional tryout, and according to several reports, that deal is imminent. Therefore, the Leafs will most likely have to look for trade options to make some space.
Members of the Leafs Made Available for Trade
Calle Jarnkrok
According to TheFourthPeriod, the Maple Leafs front office has recently made Calle Jarnkrok available for trade. The two-way forward has a cap hit of $2.1M, and he holds a ten-team, no-trade clause on his contract. He is under contract through the end of the 2025-26 season, which carries some value in the trade market. The 33-year-old was signed by the Maple Leafs in the 2022 offseason, and later that season, he had a career year scoring 20 goals and 39 points. This past season, Jarnkrok put up 21 points in 52 games, putting him on pace for a similar season as the one before.
Jarnkrok shines on both ends of the ice, specifically in his own zone. The Swede takes pride in his two-way game, as he is very reliable on the penalty kill. Under former coach Sheldon Keefe, he was very trustworthy in the boss’ eyes. Part of the reason that Jarnkrok has had great seasons with the Leafs could be because of his relationship with the coach. Another thing about him is he’s very versatile. For the most part, Jarnkrok plays the wing, but he is also available to play centre as he’s done in the past. He is a great asset for the Leafs, whether it’s for a trade or on the roster.
While Jarnkrok is on the Leafs trade list, there are others that join him. There are three other members of the Toronto Maple Leafs that could be involved in a trade. That includes David Kampf, Nicholas Robertson, and Conor Timmins. There is a different case and scenario for all these mentioned players.
David Kampf
When it comes to two-way forwards, like Jarnkrok, Kampf has been a key player for the Leafs since arriving in 2021. While he’s not a massive threat offensively, he contributes in many other ways. In terms of the PK, he’s probably the first forward the Leafs look to, if anything, second to Mitch Marner. In the last five seasons, Kampf won over half of the face-offs he lined up for. He’s very responsible and also had Keefe’s trust when he was in Toronto. However, Kampf is under contract for the next three seasons and makes $2.4M against the cap. There may not be many teams interested in paying that amount of money for a fourth liner without knowing the intangibles he brings.
Nick Robertson
At the beginning of free agency this past summer, Robertson requested a trade out of Toronto. However, his wish wasn’t granted, and general manager Brad Treliving came to an agreement with him over a new contract. He is now on a one-year deal at $875K, meaning if the Leafs decided to trade him, it wouldn’t clear up that much space. He’s been very noticeable during this preseason and is making a case to make the Leafs’ top six. While he may have wanted out not too long ago, his mind might’ve changed, seeing the opportunity he has at hand.
Conor Timmins
Timmins seems like the most likely candidate to be moved. And while the discussion here is about who the Leafs have available for a trade, it doesn’t have to be that way with Timmins. He makes $1.1M against the cap, and looking at the Maple Leafs defence depth chart, there isn’t room for him on the main roster. Therefore, Toronto could do two things with the defenceman. One option could be to look for a trade that allows them to clear his whole contract, meaning they receive draft picks, prospects or future considerations in return. Although, Timmins probably doesn’t carry enough value to earn a prospect for the Leafs.
Another situation would be to keep Timmins and send him down to the Marlies in the AHL. The downside to this is that he would have to clear waivers, giving every team a chance to claim him. But, in the end, claimed or not, Toronto would be able to free up that space.
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
