Maple Leafs Rumors: 3 Veterans Will Not Be Back Next Season
New Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has his hands full this summer, as it appears he will be making some significant changes to the roster.
NHL Insider Chris Johnson reports that all of Alex Kerfoot, Justin Holl and Michael Bunting (all free agents) will not be retained by the new Leafs' front office.
Sounds like a few Toronto vets could be heading for the door this summer. @reporterchris
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"It’s my understanding at this point that some of the veteran players that have been with the Leafs that are UFAs like Alex Kerfoot, Justin Holl, Michael Bunting even… that they won’t be back,” Johnston said.
Both Holl and Bunting saw their Leaf futures take a big hit during the playoffs. Holl was benched at one point due to poor play, and Bunting raised some ire with his problematic three-game suspension in the first round earned for an illegal hit.
The 27-year-old Bunting was often found on the top line playing with Auston Matthews, and notched 23 goals for the second consecutive season, far outplaying his $950K cap hit over those two years. But according to Johnson, "it seems pretty clear they're going in another direction there."
Kerfoot has spent the last four seasons with the Leafs as a bottom-6 forward, but his days in blue & white appear to be done as well.
As Johnson notes, "The result of (all) that is that the Leafs have to sign or trade for a bunch of NHL forwards, and perhaps a couple of defencemen."
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