Report: Leafs in contact with pending UFA from rival Canadian team

It’s shaping up to be perhaps the busiest offseason in Toronto Maple Leafs history. Not only does general manager Kyle Dubas have to navigate the turbulent waters of the Mitch Marner contract negotiations, but he has to lock up pending free agents Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, as well.

But to be fair, Dubas’ offseason work pales in comparison to the work ahead for Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning. Budding superstar Brock Boeser needs a new contract and Benning has decided to let five free agents hit the open market. He’ll need to find replacements for Markus Granlund, Derrick Pouliot, Luke Schenn and Ben Hutton. Suffice it to say that the Canucks will look like a much different team in 2019-20. 

One of those pending free agents though, defenseman Ben Hutton, is reportedly in Dubas’ sights. NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that Dubas and the Leafs have reached out to Hutton.

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The 26 year old Hutton is coming off a contract that paid him $2.8 million annually, an amount that was evidently just too rich for the Canucks. In 69 games with the Canucks last season the Brockville, Ontario native scored five goals and 20 points.