NHL Rumors: 3 Teams to Target Alex Kerfoot This Offseason

Heading into the 2022-23 NHL season, Alex Kerfoot was atop of every Leafs' fan trade bait board. He makes $3.5 million per season and plays typically in the bottom six. The thought was that Toronto could use that money to bring in another guy or two for around the same cap hit that can produce at a similar pace as Kerfoot. However, the team's front office felt that he was more valuable on the team than off of it, so they held on to him through the 2023 NHL trade deadline. Kerfoot is on an expiring deal and there is a strong chance that the Maple Leafs could look internally to fill his role. So, let's take a look at three teams that could target Kerfoot this offseason.

Vancouver Canucks 

When the Vancouver Canucks traded captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders and then fired Bruce Boudreau, it looked like they were heading into a lengthy rebuild. However, after newly hired coach Rick Tocchet took over the team, they seemed to come alive. Now, Vancouver will most likely still rebuild but the extent of that could be significantly less with the right coach and system. They will be in the market for some players who can play up and down the lineup, so insert Alex Kerfoot. He not only is a local kid, but he can also score 50 points a season, which is something that the Canucks could benefit from. It would be a very smart move for the Canucks to take a chance on Kerfoot this offseason. 

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are heading for a difficult time in the Crosby Era. They missed the playoffs for the first time in 16 years and as a result, they fired their entire front office. Now the Fenway Sports Group will look for a new GM who can oversee getting this team back to the playoffs. When you look at the Penguins roster, you'll see a team that doesn't have a ton of insulation for Crosby and Malkin. Kerfoot has shown in both Toronto and Colorado to be a player that can mesh well with the stars. He can also add depth scoring for a team that lacked that the entire 2022-23 NHL season. 

Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken is a team that loved to bring in players for under $6.0 million per season. They recorded their first playoff appearance this season and will hope to build off of that. They don't seem like the team that is going to target the biggest fish on the market, and that is why Kerfoot would fit. He would fit into their bottom six and can be a Daniel Sprong-style player, who can outplay his contract. 

Photo Credits: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports