The Toronto Maple Leafs have 12 games remaining on their 2023-24 season before facing the Boston Bruins or Florida Panthers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While some players are now auditioning for the playoff roster, others are auditioning for their long-term future with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Last week, I looked at certain Leafs who I thought deserved a contract extension from GM Brad Treliving; in this section, let’s focus on a few players that will most likely be traded or not re-signed in the winter. Here are three Maple Leafs who I believe are unlikely to return next season:
During his five seasons with the Leafs, Nick Robertson struggled with injuries, limited opportunities, and inconsistent play. There’s no disputing that he’s extremely skilled offensively and has one of the greatest wrist shots on the club; nevertheless, the 22-year-old continues to be exposed on the defensive side of the puck, and his lack of size and physicality do not bode well for a bottom-six job.
Robertson has a career high 21 points in 46 games this season, and at some time in his career, he will most likely reach the 25-30 goal mark, but I don’t believe it will be in Toronto. With Toronto’s big guns not leaving anytime soon, and players like Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi expected to be re-signed this offseason, Robertson will not have the opportunity to play top-six minutes. The 5-foot-9, 178-pound California native is better suited to playing on an offensive second line than as a checking forward on a team’s shut-down third line. One of the many reasons I believe Treliving will trade him this offseason for a young defenseman.
While Robertson will be a restricted free agent this summer, and his ‘cheap’ salary is something the Leafs’ cap situation could use more of, prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten are on the way, both of whom will compete for a roster place in September. Another reason why the Leafs can move on from Robertson and add depth to their blue line.
Robertson will face a tough battle to make the playoff roster this season once Mitch Marner and Calle Jarnkrok return from injury. There is a potential he will be inserted if there is an injury, but at this point, I believe Pontus Holmberg and Matthew Knies will be ahead of him on the postseason depth chart. Robertson’s agent has previously intimated to management that a trade could be the best option for everyone concerned, and he expects one to occur this summer.
TJ Brodie
Brodie has gone through a lot this season, both on and off the ice, and regrettably, he was recently made a healthy scratch for the first game as a Maple Leaf. Treliving will likely part ways with the veteran blueliner after his contract expires at the end of this season.
Brodie has lost a stride, and given his lack of physical presence, Treliving will most certainly try to add more size and physicality to the Leafs blue line next season, as we witnessed with the additions of Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson before to the deadline. We don’t know if any of these two defencemen will re-sign, but I’d put their chances ahead of Brodie’s.
The Chatham, ON native will be 34 before the next season begins, and while he’s been asked to shut down some of the league’s greatest players, he hasn’t been up to the challenge, which is sad for both him and the Maple Leafs’ coaching staff. Sheldon Keefe, the head coach, had this to say after deciding Brodie needed a reset.
Sheldon Keefe on T.J. Brodie being a scratch tonight:
"Brods knows he hasn’t been at his best this season here, for most of the season, yet he’s taken on a lot for us …. hardest match-ups every single night & it’s been a lot. A chance for us to give him a night off"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 20, 2024
The Maple Leafs have approximately $20.5 million in cap room this offseason, and Treliving will need to spend judiciously to maximize potential for next season and beyond. I completely expect the Leafs’ general manager, who previously attempted to trade Brodie from Calgary, to prioritize signing defenseman such as Brett Pesce or Matt Dumba before focusing on bringing Brodie back.
Noah Gregor
While Matt Murray and Martin Jones receive honorable mentions, Noah Gregor makes my top three. Gregor started strong this season, turning a tryout into a one-year contract, but the second half of the season has been difficult, and he is struggling to even make the playoff roster.
Gregor is at his best when he uses his speed and persistence to cause havoc on the forecheck, get some scoring opportunities off the rush, and push back defenders with his speed, but he has been called out by the coaching staff several times this season for making soft passes on the puck.
Gregor has 11 points in 59 games this season but hasn’t scored in 31 games, dating back to December 16th. Whether you’re on the fourth line in a checking role or not, you must contribute more than that. Gregor continues to lay some hits, and if he is able to stay in the lineup, he will need to be an excellent penalty killer in order to have a chance not just in the playoffs, but also in the coming season. Even as a restricted free agent, the 25-year-old will struggle to win a one-way contract from Treliving this summer.
Lots may change between now and when the playoffs complete, but at this juncture, based on recent performance and looking ahead to next season’s squad, it will be difficult for any of Robertson, Brodie, or Gregor to stick around.
