‘It’ll Be Up To (Brad) Treliving And The Staff’: Restricted Free Agent Wants Return to Maple Leafs and Help Team in Stanley Cup Playoffs
Qualifying offers must be submitted to the players by the later of the Monday after the NHL Draft or on June 25.
Noah Gregor wants to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season.
The 25-year-old forward, who had six goals and six assists in 63 games while playing in a bottom-six role with Toronto, is a restricted free agent at the end of this season. On Friday, Gregor appeared on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill and said he’d be open to a return.
“Yes, absolutely. My time in Toronto was fantastic. I’m still a restricted free agent, so it’s kind of out of my control for now. Gregor stated that (Brad) Treliving and the staff there will decide whether or not I can continue to train with the team.
However, I had a great time in Toronto. I’d like to return. We have all the tools here to win a championship, so I’d love to have the opportunity to do so. I want to keep supporting this team into the playoffs and, as I mentioned earlier, hopefully finally get to see it happen.”
Gregor appeared in two games for the Maple Leafs in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins and did not register a point. The forward’s qualifying offer is $813,750 and he’s also arbitration-eligible this summer.
The other RFAs for Toronto this summer are Nick Robertson, Connor Dewar, and Timothy Liljegren, who were all left wings under Sheldon Keefe last season. Gregor’s future in Toronto is also still uncertain given the success of Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan this season, who could steal a spot on the squad next autumn.
After Gregor was declared ineligible by the San Jose Sharks in late June, the forward signed a PTO with Toronto in early September. Following his impressive performance at the Maple Leafs training camp, he was given a $775,000, one-year deal.
Gregor, who was selected 111th overall in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, has played in 241 NHL games and has amassed 32 goals and 31 assists for 63 points.
