Maple Leafs go after two biggest free agent targets this offseason

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot going on, but that won’t stop them from going after two of the biggest pending free agents this summer. According to Nick Kypreos, Chris Tanev and Brandon Montour are the Leafs’ two biggest targets this offseason.

“It’s no secret the Leafs will be targeting Florida’s Montour if the pending free agent remains unsigned after this Cup final,” Kypreos reported. “Chris Tanev is another name that never left Treliving’s radar.”

The Maple Leafs had their eyes on Tanev prior to the trade deadline as Treliving was looking to reunite with his defenseman from the Calgary Flames. But the Dallas Stars acquired him in a three-team trade on Feb. 29. Tanev took part in 19 playoff contest with Dallas, who was unfortunately eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals. Tanev averaged 22:18 of ice time, the fourth-most among defenders on the Stars, and if he tests free agency, he will be one of the most coveted blue liners on the market.

The former Flames’ defender is coming off a four-year, $18 million deal he signed in Calgary.

As for Montour, he and the Florida Panthers are one win away from winning the Stanley Cup against the Oilers as the final series shifts back to Edmonton. He is in the final year of a three-year, $10.5 million contract he signed with Florida in 2021 and has been a key member with the Cats notj in points (three goals, seven assists in 20 games) and ice time (23:00) in the playoffs. The right shot defenseman would be quite the addition to the Leafs’ roster.

Under contract on the blue line in Toronto, there are Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, Simon Benout, Conor Timmins, and Cade Webber. There are rumours that restricted free agent Timothy Liljegren has yet to have significant dialogue about an extension with the Maple Leafs.

TJ Brodie, Joel Edmundson, Mark Giordano, and Ilya Lyubushkin are set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
For many season, the Maple Leafs have been seeking a major upgrade on the back end, and going are these two targets on the free agent market could be the answer to their quest.