Maple Leafs Finally Out of Järnkrok Contract – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ signing of Calle Järnkrok was the depth of a team looking for a major upset from the bottom half of their roster. His quick and effortless release gives the team hope that he could be a solid player in the top six.

Four years later, with seasons riddled with injuries and tension and Maple Leafs fans will breathe at least once as they get out of a player contract that didn’t live up to expectations.

Looking Back on Maple Leafs Signing Järnkrok

It was free agency in the summer of 2022, and the Maple Leafs were looking to fill holes on a roster that couldn’t get over the hump when it came to the playoffs and first-round upsets. On July 15, then-general manager Kyle Dubas came out to defend the veteran free agent forward in Järnkrok.

At the time, Järnkrok was 30 years old and coming off a season in which he scored 12 goals and 30 points in 66 games between the Seattle Kraken and the Calgary Flames. His season high was 35 points with the Nashville Predators in 2017-18.

Dubas signed Järnkork to a four-year contract, carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $2.1 million. At first, it seemed like a good signing for Dubas and the Maple Leafs.

Järnkrok Gave Leafs National Hope in Year One

A second-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2010, Järnkrok brought speed and a tricky shot to the Maple Leafs to start the 2022-23 season. He played up and down the team’s roster, until he found time at the top. For the first time since 2018-19, Järnkrok managed to hit 70 points in a season, playing 73 games for the Maple Leafs and ending his career high in points.

Järnkrok finished with his first 20-goal season in the NHL and set a new career high with 39 points while averaging just over 14 minutes per game. He also had his highest shooting percentage of his career, hitting at an 18.9 percent clip.

But injuries will soon take a toll on his career and the final three years of his contract with the Maple Leafs will come with question marks and debate over whether or not he should be on the active roster.

Järnkrok’s Fall From Mediocrity

In his second season with the Maple Leafs he only played 52 games, but he was in good shape for another 30 point season. His last two seasons, he totaled 75 games with seven goals and 15 points. His 2024-25 season had only 19 games played.

Järnkrok saw his ice time drop over a three-year period from over 15 minutes per game to under 12 minutes this past season. Outsiders began to wonder why players like Easton Cowan were still listed when they were healthy at times this season.

There are rumors that he will leave the NHL at the end of the season and return to Sweden. Those rumors were eventually shot down and when it came to cleaning house, Järnkrok refused to speak to the Toronto media.

While injuries have played a major role in his decline, his starts have already been subpar. From there, the veteran forward had only one way to go.

Of course, we can argue that the $2.1-million hit against the rising number of the last four years is not the only obstacle to this team’s success. However, his hold on the roster may have been the one strong point that ended up questioning the Maple Leafs front office and coaching staff.

In retrospect, the signing of Järnkrok four seasons ago may have been another misstep in a long line of mistakes for an organization trying to rebuild around a broken core.