Leafs to make controversial re-signing this summer

Every penny is important in Toronto this offseason, but the need to fix the Maple Leafs’ blue line is also a priority coming into the 2019-20 campaign. 

Travis Dermott is expected to miss a chunk of the season, and now that Nikita Zaitsez has demanded a trade out of Toronto, the Leafs will need to get creative on the blue line as many don’t expect young prospects to make the big club in September. 

However, is re-signing veteran defenseman Ron Haisney to a contract extension the right move? We ask you because NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed on Tuesday’s 31 Thoughts podcast that the Leafs are thinking to bring back Hainsey on a one-year deal. 

We can’t say that Hainsey hasn’t been useful for Toronto, however, Leafs need to realize he should be used on the third-pairing only. Head coach Mike Babcock stubbornly used him too many times on the first pair, and the  38-year-old isn’t fast enough to keep up with too many minutes. 

I guess it all depends on how much the Leafs plan to spend on Hainsey for him to rerun one last year… 

The Maple Leafs have over $74.2 million invested in 17 players for 2019-20, which means they have less than $9 million to work with should the salary cap reach the projected $83 million.

It remains to be seen who comes back, who is moved and who gets re-sign… Do you want Hainsey to return to Toronto?