Latest Development Means Maple Leafs Will Continue to Have Issues Attracting Top Free Agents

Free agency over the summer gives Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving an opportunity to change the DNA of the team, which is what he said is needed to get over the early post-season elimination hump.

But, there's an issue that Treliving has to deal with when attempting to land top free agents, and that is the huge discrepancy between what NHL players in Canada and parts of the US pay in income taxes. Unfortunately for Treliving and the Maple Leafs, the NHL has decided to continue to ignore it.

According to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, teams who play in US States like Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Nevada will continue to have that advantage even when a new collective bargaining agreement has been signed. The news comes from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

While those like agent Allan Walsh, whose Puckpedia profile shows a number of big NHL names have tried to downplay it, there's no denying that teams like the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, and Dallas Stars have a big advantage, especially when it comes to big money deals. Yes, there are ways to protect some of the money you make in other markets, but it's always easier not to have to do that.

Recently released details of a failed trade between the Maple Leafs and Golden Knights where William Karlsson refused to waive his no trade clause to come to Toronto could be additional evidence of the income tax conundrum.

You only have to look at the recent Stanley Cup wins of the Lightning, Panthers, and Golden Knights to see the difference this advantage gives those teams. For anyone to say it doesn't matter seems like denying the obvious.