Maple Leafs have money to spend

At long last, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have a few things to smile about.

Not only are the Maple Leafs making an unexpected, last-ditch push for a playoff spot, but general manager Brian Burke has the club firmly positioned to make a splash on the free-agent market in the offseason.

Among teams that traditionally spend to the cap, the Maple Leafs are a clear leader in space with just $35.1 million committed to 12 players. That's $24.3 million under the current cap, more than enough room for Burke to do significant remodeling.

For example, the Maple Leafs -- who obviously could use a playmaking center to complement sniper Phil Kessel -- could throw as much as $8 million at Brad Richards and still have space under the current cap to fill out their roster with players averaging $1.8 million.

To read about the other NHL teams with the most cap room for this offseason, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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