Toronto Maple Leafs: Pros and cons of pursuing Alex Pietrangelo

The Toronto Maple Leafs remain connected to Alex Pietrangelo as a potential free agent target and we look at the pros and cons of trying to sign the defenceman.

If you are expecting the Alex Pietrangelo to the Toronto Maple Leafs hype to go away anytime soon, you’re going to be severely disappointed.

For years we have heard about the team’s need to add a top-pairing defenceman that plays the right side which is why Pietrangelo has emerged as a desirable target. At the same time, there has been some concern raised about what signing Pietrangelo would mean for the rest of the roster now and going forward.

According to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic via Sportsnet, the most recent offer from the St. Louis Blues had an average annual value between $7.7 million and $8 million. Rutherford also adds that the structure of the contract remains a major hurdle as the Blues haven’t been willing to offer a no-trade/movement clause or signing bonuses.

This is why the Leafs appear to be in a favourable position considering they have been willing to pay out a major part of their big-money contracts with signing bonuses. Considering the salary cap remaining flat presents a challenge for many teams including the Leafs and the COVID-19 pandemic impacting what teams can offer, Toronto will look to take advantage of their strong financial position.

We take a look at whether signing Pietrangelo makes sense looking at the pros and cons of a potential deal.