Ex-Leafs forward reveals prime Toronto trading chip

The Toronto Maple Leafs are sporting a new look as they continue preparations for the 2023-24 NHL season, as there are several new figures on the team courtesy of new general manager Brad Treliving. 

But could he be thinking of ditching a figure that was brought aboard by his predecessor in Kyle Dubas, who is now with the Pittsburgh Penguins? According to one former member of the Leafs, it should be considered. 

Jay Rosehill of Leafs Morning Take suggested that Calle Jarnkrok is a prime trading chip for Treliving to jettison in order to become compliant under the salary cap: 

"You can't just ditch some nobody that's worthless to you and say 'now we're cap compliant'. I mean, the reality is, I think you're going to be a couple million over the cap, and if you want to get under it, you have to shed that. Putting an $800,000 guy that may or may not even be on the roster isn't going to cut it and you're not going to unload garbage to some team. They're not going to take it. Jarnkrok makes [$2.1M], he's valuable to other teams. He's versatile, he can play up and down the lineup and chip in, and if you need to get under that number... he's a guy that can probably get it done." 

Jarnkrok, who just finished his first season with the Maple Leafs after splitting 2021-22 between the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames, scored 20 goals with 19 assists last year. He's entering the second season of the four year, $8.4 million deal that he signed in 2022 that carries an AAV of $2.1 million.  

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