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Report: Leafs exploring trade market for Andersen, Johnsson

Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty

The Toronto Maple Leafs dealt winger Kasperi Kapanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, and general manager Kyle Dubas likely isn't finished making moves after another early ending to the club's season.

The Leafs have been dangling four names in recent trade talks, with starting netminder Frederik Andersen highlighting a group that also includes forwards Andreas Johnsson, Pierre Engvall, and Alex Kerfoot, multiple NHL clubs confirmed to The Athletic's James Mirtle.

Andersen has spent the past four seasons with Toronto and has one year remaining on his current deal, which carries a cap hit of $5 million. According to Mirtle, Andersen can be dealt for a "useful" but low-cost asset in what would primarily be a cap-clearing trade.

The Danish netminder had an up-and-down campaign but compiled a .936 save percentage over five play-in games against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Johnsson, 25, carries a cap hit of $3.4 million over the next three seasons. The speedy winger is coming off an injury-plagued campaign but has shown the ability to be an impactful top-nine forward.

Engvall, 24, inked a two-year, $2.5-million deal with the Leafs in February. The 26-year-old Kerfoot is under contract through 2022-23 with a cap hit of $3.5 million.

The Maple Leafs cleared more cap space by moving Kapanen and his $3.2-million AVV through 2021-22 and have $7.79 million in projected space this offseason. The club is in need of adding a top-four defenseman, while blue-liner Travis Dermott and winger Ilya Mikheyev are each restricted free agents in need of a new deal.

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