Fansided

One free agent every NHL team should sign this offseason

By C.L. Kohuss

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Patrick Maroon #17 of the New Jersey Devils heads out to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Patrick Maroon #17 of the New Jersey Devils heads out to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – APRIL 07: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders scores an overtime goal past Jared Coreau #31 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on April 7, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Islanders defeated the Wings 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 07: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders scores an overtime goal past Jared Coreau #31 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on April 7, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Islanders defeated the Wings 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs: John Tavares, Center

The Toronto Maple Leafs recently hired 32-year-old Kyle Dubas as new general manager, and you can bet he’ll be looking to make a splash in his first offseason. Couple that with the fact that the Leafs have $30 million in cap space, and things could get very interesting very quickly.

First off, let’s start with the current roster choices. Toronto should do what it can to bring back James van Riemsdyk. He’ll cost a pretty penny at anywhere from $7 million to $8 million.

It could let Tomas Plekanec and/or Tyler Bozak go and fill that center slot with Tavares. That would create a dynamite combination having he and Auston Matthews on the same team.

What it would also do is relieve an incredible amount of pressure from the young Matthews. He was again marvelous in the regular season but struggled in the playoffs. If Tavares is to want $10 million a year, the Leafs would still have $20 million to make offers on other current free agents. They might have to let van Riemsdyk walk and search out a cheaper option as a replacement. There are some defensive holes to fix as well.

But we aren’t going to doubt that Dubas makes a hard push for this move. There are plenty of doubters already stating that Toronto made the wrong choice in promoting him. Look for him to do something that wins over fans and critics immediately.

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