The 2024 NHL offseason is a week old and there’s already been billions of dollars spent throughout the league. The unrestricted free-agent class is dwindling with talent, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any hidden gems left unsigned.
This includes several former Maple Leafs who are still looking for contracts next season, including the following.
James van Riemsdyk
‘JVR’ spent last season with the Boston Bruins, where he earned $1 million on a one-year deal. The veteran winger scored 11 goals and 38 points in 71 games and played just over 13 minutes per game, including significant time on the Bruins’ power-play.
Of all the free-agents still available, van Riemsdyk ranks third in points scored last season and while he’s 35 years old, doesn’t appear to be contemplating retirement and wants another shot at being a top-nine winger next season.
van Riemsdyk spent five seasons in Toronto from 2012-18 and while he needed a change of scenery back six seasons ago, signing a league-minimum deal with the Maple Leafs isn’t necessarily out of the question. The Leafs lost Tyler Bertuzzi, they have Nick Robertson who wants out and the team isn’t loaded with depth at left-wing. This could be something to monitor as the offseason continues.
John Klingberg
A serious knee injury cost Klingberg a huge chunk of last season in what was supposed to be an exciting first campaign as a Maple Leaf. The lanky Swedish blueliner ended up only appearing in 14 games after signing a one-year deal for $4.1 million.
Despite a couple of off years, which included some horrible luck, Klingberg is an interesting free-agent as he’s shown in the past, in the right situation, he can be an effective offensive defenceman. Coming off a major injury, he’s likely in store for another one-year contract, however it’s going to be nowhere near $4 million. His next deal is more likely to come in around $1 million.
At this point the Leafs haven’t appeared to completely close the door on a Klingberg reunion, and with limited depth on the right side of their back end, perhaps Brad Treliving should considering adding Klingberg to battle for a depth role with the team at training camp.
Tyson Barrie
Speaking off offensive defencemen, Tyson Barrie had a rough year in Nashville last season and remains unsigned this summer. Barrie was frustrated with being taken off the Predators power play, he was pissed off to learn he’d be completely taken out of the lineup and it became quite obvious he wouldn’t be returning to Nashville this offseason.
Barrie was a part of the infamous ‘Nazem Kadri trade’ with the Colorado Avalanche a few years ago and as a Leaf, recorded 39 points in 70 games during the 2019-20 season. Barrie’s most recent contract paid him $4.5 million against the cap and like Klingberg, he should be expecting a significant pay cut to land a role for next season.
Barrie has defensive warts, he turns 33 in a few weeks and there’s certainly some risk in his game from a defense-first lens. But, with that being said, Barrie is still an above-average skater, and with his offensive instincts and hockey sense, in the right situation, could once again hit the 40-point mark. With being 5-foot-11 and not in the least physical, don’t expect to see Treliving circle back on what a lot of Leafs’ fans call a Kyle Dubas mistake.
Travis Dermott
Dermott spent last season with the Arizona Coyotes and remains unsigned. The mobile blueliner appeared in 50 games for the ‘Yotes, recording seven points. Dermott played a significant role on Arizona’s penalty kill and has shown throughout his 329 career NHL games, he’s a smooth skater who has some offensive upside.
The Coyotes moved to Utah and didn’t bring Dermott with them. Of all the defencemen left on the free-agent market, Dermott ranks in the top-10 for average ice-time per game last season. The Newmarket, ON native was originally a second-round pick of the Maple Leafs back in 2015 and his career has also included a two-year stop in Vancouver.
Victor Mete
Mete appeared in 11 games for the Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 season and last year only dressed in one game for the Philadelphia Flyers. He played most of his season for the Leigh Valley Phantoms and registered 16 points in 59 games.
Mete hits the open market this summer looking to land himself a multi-year two-way contract to at least bank some security at the professional level in North America. He’s a smooth skater who is undersized and if he’s asked to play a shut-down role may be out of his element. The Toronto, ON native was originally a fourth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens back in 2016 and his 248-game NHL career also includes a brief stop with the Ottawa Senators.
Byron Froese
Froese played for the Maple Leafs for parts of two seasons beginning in 2015-16 and has since enjoyed his NHL journey via the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames and most recently the Vegas Golden Knights, where he’s been up and down for the past two seasons.
Froese is a checking centre who has carved out a 141-game NHL career to this point. While he only registered one assist in 16 games for the Golden Knights last season, the Winkler, MB native posted 31 points in 53 games at the AHL level. If Froese signs a deal this summer, look for it to be a two-way contract as he enters the back nine of his playing days.
Mark Giordano
Giordano may be the oldest player in the league but his agent came out this summer and confirmed his client would like to play a couple more seasons. The Maple Leafs have yet to re-sign Giordano and there hasn’t been much for speculation on if that’s going to happen at some point this summer.
It feels like the Leafs are moving on as they continue to refresh their back end. Giordano will have to take a league minimum deal likely somewhere else if he’s indeed looking to continue his playing career. The former Norris trophy winner appeared in 46 games for the Leafs last season, recording nine points. He didn’t dress in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and slowly crept down the depth chart throughout the year.
Regardless if he ends up playing another season or not, Giordano was a great Maple Leaf who had the passion and played with his heart on his sleeve.
Alexander Barabanov
Perhaps the most surprising on the list who isn’t signed is Alexander Barabanov. Many felt he’d be dealt before the trade deadline last season, however the San Jose Sharks chose to hold onto him and then haven’t re-signed him this summer.
Barabanov recently switched agents so we’ll have to wait and see if that brings some momentum his way to land a new deal. Last season he appeared in 46 games with the Sharks, scoring four times and finishing the year with 13 points. His best season came back in 2022-23 when he recorded 15 goals and 47 points in 68 games. His bang-and-crash style is something a lot of teams could use within their bottom six.
Barabanov made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs back during the 2020-21 season and ended up playing in 13 games for Toronto before being dealt to the Sharks.
Matt Martin
Speaking of banging-and-crashing, Martin has been doing so for a long time and is looking to continue playing a checking role next season. The New York Islanders enforcer has spent the past six seasons on Long Island and most recently, appeared in 57 games in 2023-24, recording eight points in 57 games, adding 151 hits.
Martin spent two seasons from 2016-2018 with the Maple Leafs and was a security blanket for Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews at the time, as they were entering their rookie season. Martin is now 35 and in search of a new contract and it’s likely he may have to settle on a professional tryout agreement ahead of training camps starting in September.
Radim Zohorna
Some Leafs fans will say – ‘who’? The 28-year-old Zohorna enjoyed a cup of coffee with the Maple Leafs back in 2022-23, dressing in just two games, scoring once. He’d then go on to join the Calgary Flames and this past season followed Kyle Dubas to Pittsburgh.
The towering 6-foot-6 forward dressed in 33 games for the Penguins last season, collecting seven points. He was almost a point-a-game player in the AHL went sent down and with his size and soft hands, has some offensive upside.
Zohorna hits the free-agent market this summer owning a 68-game NHL career and is looking to secure a two-way contract to land another shot to prove himself.
