Insider believes Toronto Maple Leafs could buyout veteran defenseman as buyout window nears an end

The NHL's buyout window opened Friday and only the Vancouver Canucks have taken advantage of it, buying out veteran defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The buyout of OEL came as a major surprise to many, as it forces the Canucks to pay part of OEL's salary for the next 8-years.

Now veteran NHL Insider Frank Seravalli believes that the Toronto Maple Leafs could also be considering buying out a veteran defender. With limited cap space the Maple Leafs could use as much flexibility as possible. Today Seravalli mentioned that the Maple Leafs could consider buying out TJ Brodie.


Due to the structure of Brodie's contract it offers the Maple Leafs a very unique opportunity for cap space. Due to the structure of Brodie's contract the Maple Leafs would retain no salary this season, and would simply have to pay Brodie $2,500,000 next year.



While with the Calgary Flames, current Maple Leafs' General Manager Brad Treliving tried to trade TJ Brodie on multiple occasions, before finally letting the defender walk in free agency. Brodie, was famously in the rumored trade for Nazem Kadri, which Kadri blocked.

While the ability to eat no cap hit this season for Brodie, likely appeals to the Maple Leafs, Brodie still holds trade value as a defensive defender. Despite a difficult performance in the playoffs, it's unlikely that even Treliving would take the buyout route.