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From CTV Calgary’s Glenn Campbell:

Devin Setoguchi is one of those names that seems like it’s been around longer than his age would suggest: He’s 28 years old and only first broke the League in 2007-08. In his first full 80-game season in 2008-09, he scored 31 goals, and followed that up with four twenty-goal seasons if we prorate his 2011-12 season and the 2012-13 lockout year.

To what extent his struggles in 2013-14 and 2014-15 are attributable to off-ice trouble is not something we can comment on, but that he took the steps to tackle his issues is obviously a positive going forward.

A professional tryout agreement (PTO) seems to make the most sense here, similar to what the Maple Leafs did with Mason Raymond for the 2013 preseason. Setoguchi wouldn’t be coming in with any guarantees, should younger players or other options outshine him in training camp. Where the PTO provides the ability to cut bait after camp, a one-year guaranteed contract would at least mean he’s playing the season with the Marlies; if he doesn’t look any good in the NHL camp, having veterans with no future with the big club take up AHL roster spots has been something the Leafs have been steering away from with their AHL affiliate in the past year.

That said, if the Leafs went the route of an one-year NHL contract, they do technically have the space to take a flyer on Setoguchi, or some of the other bargain bin options still out there. The Leafs are at 51 Standard Player Contracts with three likely to slide to junior — Travis Dermott, Mitch Marner, and Cody Donaghey. They have $8.2 million in cap space.  Whether they want to further crowd the bottom-six field of competition with more short-term veteran adds is another question altogether.

Nothing is official as of yet.


Wednesday Links:

  • Kyle Cicerella: Prospect Frederik Gauthier, going pro with some familiar faces (Kyle The Reporter)
    Gauthier, Christopher Clapperton and Michael Joly played junior together last season with the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic. All three will be part of Toronto’s organization in some fashion come September.
    I
  • Thomas Drance: Simply acquiring the puck was a struggle for Maple Leafs’ top line (SportsLogIQ)
    In terms of his size, speed and the raw physical tool kit, one would expect van Riemsdyk to post offensive zone loose puck recovery results more consistent with what fellow power forwards like Max Pacioretty and James Neal managed last season, rather than being outperformed in this area by Manny Malhotra.
    I
  • Jared Clinton: Report: Setoguchi to join Maple Leafs. Can he rediscover his 30-goal ways? (The Hockey News)
    Along with the news that Setoguchi is heading to Toronto comes word that the 28-year-old had checked himself into rehab and has been “clean and sober” for five months. It was never reported that Setoguchi had substance abuse problems, but he says he’ll enter camp with a new outlook.
    I
  • Scott Wheeler: Maple Leafs’ Top 25 Under 25: #23 Scott Harrington (PPP)
    As a player, Harrington is a workhorse, playing in all situations at every level he’s played in big roles. “He’s probably the most hardworking, mature person I’ve ever met,” former teammateMax Domi said on Sportsnet590 The FAN, yesterday.
    I
  • Kaitlin Cimini: Jenny Scrivens Joins Riveters, Part Of First Couple To Play Pro Hockey (Today’s Slapshot)
    Once the puck drops on Scrivens’ first game, the Scrivenses will be the first married duo to play professional hockey simultaneously. While Cammi Granato and Ray Ferraro are two professional players who married, they wed in 2004, after Granato retired from professional hockey in 2003.
    I
  • Scott Lewis: Max Domi on Jays, chirping and playing with diabetes (Sportsnet)
    Domi: I’m fired up. Fired up for sure. It’s crazy, and it’s great for the city. The city of Toronto has been absolutely bumpin’ this summer. To make those moves that they did was great. It’s pretty ballsy and it’s exciting from a fan’s perspective. Unfortunately I won’t be here to watch the post-season but I’ll be following online and on TV.