Toronto Maple Leafs Must Be Thrifty in Free Agency This Summer

Although it was made more than clear today by General Manager Cliff Fletcher, everyone knew that a rebuild was coming this Summer, no matter what the Maple Leafs did in the stretch run.

And while a rebuild is coming to the Blue and White, There still does need to be some new faces brought in through free agency, and trades as well, simply because Toronto doesn't have enough pieces in the cupboard to start a complete rebuild from within.

Sure, there are plenty of good young players to be excited about.  Anton Stralman and Jiri Tlusty took big strides this year.  As did youngsters Matt Stajan and Alex Steen.  They also got some good efforts from AHL farmhands Jeremy Williams Robbie Earl and Staffan Kronwall.  Future number one Justin Pogge is also waiting in the wings.  Couple that with the fact that one of their highest touted prospects, Nikolai Kulemin, has full intentions on coming over to Toronto this summer to be the Maple Leafs next year, and the Maple Leafs do have some pretty decent pieces of the puzzles.

However, as good as those players are, I think it is safe to say that Toronto does not have a cornerstone to build a franchise around.  Sure, there's a chance that could change when the Leafs draft 7th overall this year at the entry draft.  This is a deep draft, and there is also the chance they could take their 7th pick and pair it with Nik Antropov or Pavel Kubina and attempt to move into the top three, or five.

Therefore, despite a rebuild that should see alot of young players who auditioned this season get ice time next season, the Maple Leafs will need to find some free agents to fill some holes in their lineups.  

Finding the right free agents to pair up with the young core that Toronto has,  could be beneficial to the teams, as well as the young players who will learn from the veterans.

In saying that, here is a list of potential free agents that the Toronto Maple Leafs could sign for a low price, that could have high rewards.

Aaron Ward