The Toronto Maple Leafs appeared to have few avenues of improvement with six weeks to go until the opening of training camp, but a couple moves made by NHL clubs this week may tantalize GM Kyle Dubas.
The window created by salary arbitration allowed New York and Calgary to clear up some cap space. The Rangers exercised that option by buying out the final two years of Kevin Shattenkirk’s four-year, $26.6 Million contract on Wednesday and the Flames did the same on Thursday with the final year of Michael Stone’s three-year, $10.5 Million contract.
Shattenkirk’s buyout came as a surprise, even though the 30-year-old had a below par 28 points in his second season on Broadway, but the signing of Jacob Trouba and addition of Harvard’s Adam Fox gave GM Jeff Gorton more depth on the blueline nd an opportunity to clear over $5 Million this season.
Stone, 29, was limited to only 14 games last season due to an arm injury and blood clot issues, but had to be fully healthy to be bought out.
Both blueliners are right-hand shots and might be willing to accept a short-term contract to find a landing spot this season.
Shattenkirk is from the New York area (which was a large factor in him signing with the Rangers), so it is possible that he would prefer to stay in the Eastern Conference, while Stone is from Winnipeg and has played his entire career in the Western Conference (Arizona and Calgary).
Shattenkirk or Stone could be interested in signing with a contending team in need of some bolstering on the blueline, such as Toronto or Tampa Bay, since their high visibility and strong offenses would enable them to put up good numbers and attract interest in free agency down the line.
Even though the Leafs acquired righties Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci last month, their bottom pairing looks to be questionable entering training camp and the candidates on the right side are Jordan Schmaltz and Justin Holl.
The difficulty for Dubas if he is interested is Toronto’s current constraints ( of being over the $81.5 Million salary cap and at 48 pro contracts. The Leafs are likely reserving one of those two remaining spots for the unsigned Mitch Marner and possibly the other for goalie Michal Neuvirth (who is on a professional tryout).
Dubas would likely have to move out a player on the existing 48 to clear a spot for Shattenkirk and if he is looking for anything more than a league-minimum deal, it would like take Toronto out of the picture, but it is something that the Leafs may check out to see if it is possible.
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