NHL Insider links multi-time 20-goal scorer to Canadian team
As we all know, whenever there's a player rumoured to be available, the Toronto Maple Leafs just have to be involved somehow. Such is the case with a former 3-time 20-goal scorer, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
Dreger, while making a guest appearance on The Sekeres & Price Show on Thursday morning, brought up the name Travis Konecny in connection to the Leafs.
-Dreger on one potential option for the Maple Leafs.
Konecny certainly fits the description of someone that Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas would be looking for. He's just 24 years old, has shown that he can put the puck in the net and he plays a very feisty, physical game.
The former 1st round pick (24th overall in 2015) has 3 seasons after this one remaining on his current deal, which carries a $5.5M cap hit. With the Maple Leafs having just placed veteran defenseman Jake Muzzin on LTIR on Wednesday, the Leafs have approximately $5.2M in available cap space, per CapFriendly.
It's unlikely that the Flyers will want to retain any salary on Konecny for 3 more seasons, so the Leafs would likely have to find a third team who would be willing to come in and retain some salary in exchange for an asset. The alternative is to have the Leafs send a player with both salary and term back the other way in the deal with Philly. Someone like Alexander Kerfoot or Justin Holl perhaps. Both players have one year remaining on their deals after this season. Holl makes just $2M per season, while Kerfoot makes $3.5M.
Another player that plays a similar style to Konecny is Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller. The Leafs are also rumoured to have reached out to the Canucks to inquire on Miller.
