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Comments made recently by Sheldon Keefe about Alex Kerfoot might indicate that the Leafs could be planning to move someone else

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Mike Armenti
February 24, 2023 (6:40 PM)

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The NHL's trade deadline is now officially just one week away and all eyes - at least those within Leafs Nation - are on the Leafs and what they might plan to do after already addressing needs in the top 6 and the bottom 6 with the additions of Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari.

The Leafs have about $1.25M in available cap space once Matt Murray returns from IR and can open up an additional $750K if they choose to waive depth defenseman Jordie Benn. You may not think that that $2M can go a long way, but you need only look at the fact that Ryan O'Reilly's cap hit in Toronto is just $1.875M thanks to the salary that St. Louis and Minnesota retained in the deal. The point I'm trying to make there is that $2M is more than enough to squeeze in another impact player, as long as GM Kyle Dubas believes that he can get good value for the assets he decides to move.

One popular opinion is that the Leafs should move Alexander Kerfoot to open up an additional $3.5M in cap space and truly go all-in. However, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe seems to really appreciate all of the details in Kerfoot's game and loves the versatility he offers. Some comments made by Keefe this week seem to indicate that, if he has anything to say about it, Kerfoot will stay right where he is.

"To me, he's playing his best hockey right now. When we made the (O'Reilly) trade, I spoke to him directly. It came at a time when he was playing in the top six and I thought he had done his job there He was in a good spot, things were starting to come. And then the trade impacts him. I spoke with him and made it clear that those guys are going to come in, they're going to slot into their own slots and force me to reshuffle things. The puck hasn't gone in the net like he'd like but he's still making contributions to the team throughout."

-Keefe on Kerfoot

If the Leafs do decide to hold onto Kerfoot, there are other pending UFAs on the team who make more than the league minimum that the Leafs can move to open up some additional space. Pierre Engvall ($2.25M) and Justin Holl ($2M) are two examples of players they could afford to move if it meant bringing in a clear upgrade.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

Former Leaf placed on waivers

Ryan O'Reilly shares hilarious quote about playing with Mitch Marner, reveals a message he got from Leafs legend, Darcy Tucker

Leafs confirm starter for tonight's game against Wild, have a surprise participant in optional skate

POLL
24 FEVRIER \| 306 ANSWERS Comments made recently by Sheldon Keefe about Alex Kerfoot might indicate that the Leafs could be planning to move someone else Who should the Leafs move to open up some additional cap space at the deadline?
Kerfoot	98	32 %
Engvall	51	16.7 %
Holl	131	42.8 %
Other/Nobody	26	8.5 %
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