Pair of Leafs expected to walk and test the free agent market at noon today
It appears as though the Leafs will be looking to fill an additional few roster spots when free agency opens in a few hours. Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston have separately reported that a pair of deadline acquisitions will be hitting the open market instead of re-signing with the Leafs.
Both Luke Schenn and Ryan O'Reilly have elected to test the free agent market instead of re-signing in the hopes of cashing in. According to a recent report from Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs and Schenn had been close on an extension in the middle of June. However, as Johnston now reports, Schenn has apparently received quite the offer from another club. LeBrun has also reported that the Leafs and O'Reilly continued to negotiate down to the wire but ultimately couldn't come to terms on a new deal.
Schenn was a nice surprise after the Leafs acquired him around the deadline as he became the partner the Leafs had been looking for for Morgan Rielly. Thanks to his physical, stay-at-home and stable presence, Rielly was able to play a more offensive game and played the best hockey he has played in a Leaf jersey.
O'Reilly was also a solid addition for the Leafs despite missing a month with a broken finger. He solidified them down the middle and took away some of the heavier minutes from Auston Matthews and John Tavares. It would have been nice to have them both back, but the Leafs have limited cap space and with a weak free agent market, the pair will cash in with teams that have more money to spend.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 1 | 622 ANSWERS Pair of Leafs expected to walk and test the free agent market at noon today Will either Schenn or O'Reilly circle back to the Leafs during free agency?? | ||
| Schenn will come back | 96 | 15.4 % |
| O'Reilly will come back | 38 | 6.1 % |
| No, neither will return | 422 | 67.8 % |
| I think both will return | 66 | 10.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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