Maple Leafs urged to sign defenseman for 2-year, $18 million contract in free agency
The cap is working in Toronto's favor.
Maple Leafs urged to sign defenseman for 2-year, $18 million contract in free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The salary cap is working in the Toronto Maple Leafs ' favor this offseason.
Essentially, they have some short-term room to work with, and that could allow them to find some solutions to their potential defensive woes. One option? Dougie Hamilton.
NHL analyst Kevin Papetti thinks the Leafs could land Hamilton, who is a free agent from the New Jersey Devils , for a two-year deal worth $9 million per year ($18 million total). He also suggests the defenseman Rasmus Andersson as a possible alternative to Hamilton. Papetti explained why this could make sense: "The Leafs have plenty of cap space, and they don't have to give out any significant raises in the near future.
You don't want to sign up for bad long-term deals, but they can afford to overpay for 2-3 seasons. Short-term, high AAV deals make sense this offseason. " MORE: A Buffalo bounce and a Benson birthday give the Sabres new life Some salary cap implications will also depend upon what the Maple Leafs decide to do with Auston Matthews.