Toronto Maple Leafs: Contract Predictions for All Pending Free Agents

The Toronto Maple Leafs have three pending restricted free agents and four pending unrestricted free agents on their current roster.

Players who have spent time with the Leafs this season but are currently not on the roster (e.g., Keith Aulie, Matt Frattin) were not considered for this slideshow.

Dollar estimates were made under the assumption that all seven free agents will re-sign in Toronto. Some of them could undoubtedly make more money if they decided to leave for free agency, but for the purposes of this presentation, we'll assume they all love it in Toronto and want to stay.

Here is an idea of what their contracts for next season might look like, with all information about current contracts coming from CapGeek.

Darryl Boyce

Current contract: one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000

Darryl Boyce has been an effective bottom-six grinder for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he's only played in 11 games for them this season.

He has been out with back spasms but should be close to returning, though, there may not be room for him in the lineup.

He's the type of guy that pops right back up after being steamrolled or taking a puck on the noggin, and the Leafs love him for it.

He has not done enough to justify a long contract or a raise, but the Leafs like him enough to be willing to give him another chance with a contract similar or even identical to the one he currently possesses.

Prediction for new contract: one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000

Joey Crabb

Current contract: one-year, two-way deal worth $750,000

Joey Crabb is a good bottom-six guy, but he's been especially good this year with eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 43 games played for the Leafs.

He also isn't afraid to play along the boards and engage in physical puck battles.

He has scored some big goals for the Leafs as well and is likely to be rewarded for his hard work.

Prediction: $1.7 million over two years ($850,000 cap hit), one-way deal

Cody Franson

Current contract: two years, $1.6 million ($800,000 cap hit)

He was the odd man out of the blue line at the start of the season, but credit Cody Franson for staying patient.

Franson eventually got an opportunity to show off his skills a bit and he's taken full advantage of it.

He has been good defensively and a major threat offensively.

He was mentioned in trade rumours earlier in the season, but the Leafs would be foolish to let Franson go now. Regardless of the return, Franson's departure would leave a void that would be tough to fill.

It is possible he'll put up career numbers this season despite not playing that much during the first few weeks of the season.

In any case, he'll be due for a nice raise.

Prediction: four years, $10 million ($2.5 million cap hit)

Mikhail Grabovski

Current contract: three years, $8.7 million ($2.9 million cap hit)

When describing Mikhail Grabovski, the word "beast" comes to mind.

He had a career year last year (29 goals and 29 assists) and, despite a slow start to this season, is on pace for yet another career year.

Brian Burke has no doubt received quite a few inquiries about the services of Grabovski, but given Grabovski's value to the Leafs, he might not be for sale.

Look for Grabovski to be locked up on a big-money, long-term deal.

Prediction: five years, $20.5 million ($4.1 million cap hit)

Jonas Gustavsson

Current contract: two years, $2.7 million ($1.35 million cap hit)

Since January 1st, 2012, Jonas Gustavsson has, for the most part, been excellent in net for the Leafs.

He does have his ups and downs, but that's probably why the Leafs will keep starting goaltender James Reimer around.

With the loss in Winnipeg, Gustavsson is now 16-11-1-3 with a GAA of 2.74 and a save percentage of .909.

He had 16 wins in 42 games for the Leafs in his rookie season back in 2009-10. This season, he has the same number of wins in 29 games played.

James Reimer seems to have bounced back from his injury, but he's not done enough to fully wrest the starting job back from Gustavsson.

Although Reimer is considered the Leafs' future in net, Gustavsson has made a strong case to be their 1B, so to speak.

Look for Gustavsson's new contract to roughly match the remaining amount on Reimer's contract. This will hopefully promote some healthy competition in the crease for the next couple years.

Prediction: two years, $3.6 million ($1.8 million cap hit)

Nikolai Kulemin

Current contract: two years, $4.7 million ($2.35 million cap hit)

Nikolai Kulemin's current struggles will hurt him a bit in any upcoming contract negotiations, but at the same time, management will not forget the amazing year he had in 2010-11.

Kulemin is basically doing everything he did last year except score. He has been good defensively and he has been a physical force. Apparently, he can throw thunderous checks as well—just ask Patrick Kaleta.

He will likely not get paid more than Clarke MacArthur ($3.25 million cap hit), but he shouldn't get paid less than Colby Armstrong ($3M cap hit) who, in terms of skill, provides less than Kulemin does.

Despite the off year, the Leafs can see the value and potential in Kulemin and will therefore want to lock him up to a medium-length contract.

This will give them sufficient time to evaluate him as a player without too much risk.

Prediction: three years, $9 million ($3 million cap hit)

Jay Rosehill

Current contract: one year, $600,000

This is an interesting case.

Colton Orr was waived earlier this season, something Brian Burke felt he was forced to do because there weren't too many willing dance partners for Orr.

Jay Rosehill isn't a heavyweight like Orr, but aside from that, they provide very little to the team outside of toughness.

Fewer and fewer teams are employing enforcers, so the teams that still have one may soon be forced to exchange toughness for skill.

Is Rosehill needed on the Leafs? They have Mike Brown as well as guys like Dion Phaneuf and Luke Schenn, who can also drop the gloves once in awhile.

None are as intimidating as Orr, but this is not a soft team by any means.

Instead of intimidating other teams with the threat of physical punishment, the Leafs may instead opt to scare them off with speed and skill. This is the path they are currently taking, so a player like Rosehill will, more often than not, find himself scratched.

That said, Rosehill will likely get re-signed, if only to fill in for other bottom-six guys when they get injured.

Prediction: one year, $600,000