Toronto Maple Leafs: What to do with each pending unrestricted free agent
Cody Ceci
What can be said about Ceci that hasn’t already been said?
The Leafs were hoping that Ceci could be a reclamation project by getting him out of Ottawa and having the Senators take Nikita Zaitsev‘s contract off their hands. Unfortunately, it’s tough to see how the 26-year-old can justify his $4.5 million cap hit considering his production.
He only has one goal in 56 games and Leafs fans weren’t the slightest bit upset when he suffered his ankle injury before the trade deadline, although it’s never right to cheer for an injury (which probably wasn’t the case). The criticism for Ceci’s play got to a point where Dubas came to his defence.
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Fortunately for the Leafs, their decision this off-season should be easy when it comes to Ceci’s future with the team. Considering Justin Holl signed a three-year $2 million extension and has proven to be a more adequate option on the right side, the Leafs shouldn’t have any reason to want Ceci back.
The team could easily use that cap to address other needs and honestly get significant upgrades, even though right-handed defencemen are tough to come by. It would be a better option to play either Travis Dermott or Rasmus Sandin on the right side before they consider bringing Ceci back.
It’s not as big of a dilemma as the other players and when you look at who the Leafs need to bring back there isn’t a huge pressing need for the team to address other than Barrie. With that being said, the Leafs will find themselves in a tough situation next season.
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What would you do in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ position, when it comes to their pending unrestricted free agents? Which ones would you make an offer to and who would you let go? Share your thoughts in the comments below.