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Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Sandin, Kerfoot & Tavares

The Toronto Maple Leafs are preparing for training camp. Will Rasmus Sandin be there? Can John Tavares have a point-a-game season?

In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs Quick Hits, I’ll look at the plight of Rasmus Sandin. He’s currently holding out for money, but seems to have little leverage in those salary negotiations.

Second, I’ll ask the key question about Alex Kerfoot. How much is he worth to the Maple Leafs?

Finally, I’ll look at Maple Leafs’ captain John Tavares and wonder how much he’d ask for on his next contract should he choose to continue to play and want to sign with his hometown Maple Leafs.

Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Sandin, Nylander, Kerfoot & Spezza

Quick Hit One: What Will Happen To Rasmus Sandin?

From my perspective, Rasmus Sandin appears to be caught between a rock and a hard place. Unless he really wants to be traded, he has almost no control over the situation he’s in. If he would like to remain a Maple Leafs’ player, logic suggests he should have signed for the same $1.4 million his Swedish partner Timothy Liljegren signed for and then set out to earn a regular spot in the team’s lineup.

Because he has only about one year of NHL experience, logic would also suggest that Sandin shouldn’t feel comfortable missing training camp. History suggests it wasn’t that wise for William Nylander to do. When he returned from his protracted holdout, the remainder of his season was horrible.

Rasmus Sandin, Maple Leafs

Sandin is also stuck if it’s more about playing time than it is about the amount of money on the contract. He can hardly make that announcement without looking foolish and arrogant. He’s had his chances and couldn’t earn a spot; and, now he wants the team to move someone out so he can get more money?

I can only think his goal is to leave the Maple Leafs. I see no logical reason for his intransigence with this contract.

Related: MAPLE LEAFS RANDOM THOUGHTS: WHAT TO DO WITH ALEX KERFOOT?

Quick Hit Two: How Valuable Is Alex Kerfoot?

Alex Kerfoot is far from a mega-star. He’s a decent player who’s neither over nor under paid at $3.5 million per season. Maple Leafs fans contend that he doesn’t have much value around the league despite the fact that the bulk of his contract ($2.75 million) has already been paid as a signing bonus for this year. They’re wrong.

Alex Kerfoot, Maple Leafs

What makes Kerfoot valuable to the Maple Leafs is his flexibility. However, what makes him more valuable is that his production could not be replaced at the same money. If fact, what player out there would be better than Kerfoot for a cheaper dollar figure?

The truth is that Kerfoot is valuable because he’s irreplaceable without losing on the deal.

Quick Hit Three: What Will John Tavares Sign for His Current Contract Expires?

When John Tavares signed with the Maple Leafs on July 1, 2018, he realized a childhood dream. That much can be known when he tweeted the following on the day his contract was announced with the Maple Leafs four years ago.

Tavares signed a lucrative contract at $11 million until the end of the 2024-25 season. That gives him three more seasons with his team of choice. He’s realized his childhood dream; and, he’s probably actually pushed that dream even further. He’s now the Maple Leafs’ captain, leading by example.

A lot of Maple Leafs’ fans believe Tavares isn’t worth the money he’s paid and should be traded. While I might agree that his contract and his current output might not match (in favor of the money), I don’t believe he should be traded.

He’s well-liked and remains productive, even as he’s aging. As well, the thought that he’d be moved isn’t logical. Given his desire to play for the Maple Leafs, I can almost promise that he’s going nowhere. Maybe the dollars and his level of play don’t perfectly balance, but he’s still almost a point-a-game producer.

Auston Matthews John Tavares Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews John Tavares Maple Leafs Upper Deck

In fact, if Tavares had scored only six more points in his four completed seasons with the team, he’d be exactly averaging a point-a-game. In short, that’s still productive.

Although I can’t promise, I wonder what Taveres would sign for when his current Maple Leafs’ contract expires. Does anyone want to bet he won’t do a Jason Spezza or a Mark Giordano and offer a huge hometown discount?

That’s rhetorical – I bet he will.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Key Question: Which Muzzin Will Show Up This Year?

7 Comments

7 Comments

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  4. David Dillon

    August 30, 2022 at 12:00 pm

    I think a lot of the dust that is being raised over Sandin’s contract situation is due to the lack of information available. Kyle Dubas seems to want be tight-lipped until he can make a conclusive announcement. He also seems to have learned Lou Lamarillo’s lesson about letting time be on your side. An offer sheet would have established what Sandin’s value would have been to another club and the choice to better that offer (or not) would have been made by now.
    I expect a couple of things: a) that Sandin will be the next Nylander, as far as being the object of petty hate is concerned; b) that prior to the season an agreement will be made, because Dubas probably doesn’t want a repeat of the previous eleventh hour resolution.

  5. Old Prof

    August 30, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    Hi David – I think you might be right on both counts – especially the first.

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