Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: The Maple Leafs still need to re-sign RFA winger Connor Brown, but they can’t do so at the moment as a new deal would put them over the summer cap ceiling.
The Leafs wouldn’t be able to match an offer sheet that is over $1.15 million.
Teams know the Leafs are looking to move some salary and the trade rumors are swirling around some of their veterans.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers have been linked to Tyler Bozak.
Brown appears to be okay with waiting for the Leafs to figure out cap situation and isn’t interested in signing an offer sheet.
Brown could be looking at around $3 million on his next deal.
The Leafs have 19 forwards under contract so they’ll be looking to make some moves regardless of their cap situation.
Sources saying the Maple Leafs aren’t interested in the Rangers offer of defenseman Nick Holden.
The Penguins might be tempted to offer the Maple Leafs Olli Maatta. Assist GM Mark Hunter is a fan of Maatta. Maatta carries a $4.083 million cap so that wouldn’t create much cap savings.
The Anaheim Ducks were more interested in Connor Brown than Tyler Bozak when they were discussing Sami Vatanen before the expansion draft.