Shocking: Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3.... Contracts for...

Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3…. Contracts for…

In today’s NHL, competitive teams often have the best salary cap management, and for the Toronto Maple Leafs, this means wisely allocating over $40 million annually to their four top forwards. Consequently, they need to find affordable talent for the rest of the lineup and avoid bad contracts. Here are three of the worst contracts for the Maple Leafs in the 2024-25 season:

1. David Kampf: $2.5 Million AAV x 3 Years

David Kampf’s contract is considered the worst on the team. As a fourth-line center, he hasn’t provided enough value for his relatively high paycheck. Despite his skills in faceoffs and penalty killing, his 5-on-5 play is ineffective, with poor expected goals share (xGF%). His lack of offensive production makes his contract particularly unfavorable.

2. Chris Tanev: $4.5 Million AAV x 6 Years

While $4.5 million annually is currently a fair deal for the 34-year-old defenseman, concerns arise over the latter years of his six-year contract. As defensemen typically decline after age 33, Tanev’s performance is expected to drop, making it unlikely he will justify his salary throughout the contract. His current defensive strengths may not be enough to counterbalance the predicted decline.

3. Ryan Reaves: $1.4 Million AAV x 2 Years

Despite its lower value, Ryan Reaves’ contract is criticized for being unnecessary. His limited on-ice contributions—lacking speed, scoring, and special teams play—render his role insignificant in the modern NHL. Given the Maple Leafs’ need to economize on bottom-six talent, this deal is seen as a poor allocation of resources. The team would benefit more from promoting young players with potential upside instead of retaining Reaves.

Additionally, John Tavares’ large contract, which ends after the 2024-25 season, is highlighted as a potential relief for the team’s cap situation. Letting him leave in free agency could help alleviate financial pressures, despite his declining performance. Moving on from both Reaves and Kampf would also improve the team’s salary cap outlook.