Leafs Do Not Qualify Griffith, Will Become UFA

Wallaceburg’s Seth Griffith will be with a new organization again next season after he did not receive a qualifying offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A qualifying offer for Griffith would have to be 105 per cent of his base salary, which was $625,000 in 2017.

The move makes Griffith an unrestricted free agent, eligible to sign with any NHL team for the 2017-2018 season when the free agency period opens July 1.

Last week, it was rumoured Griffith could have been a part of a proposed trade to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for defenseman Colin Miller, but that deal did not materialize.

Last season, Griffith played 24 NHL games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, spending time on Florida’s top line alongside Jaromir Jagr. He collected 5 assists, but was waived by both Florida and Toronto. Claimed by the Maple Leafs for a second time in the year, Griffith was assigned to the AHL Toronto Marlies, where he scored 10 goals and 44 points in 38 games before adding 9 points in 11 playoff games.

Griffith, who is 24-years-old, has 16 points in 58 NHL games split between Toronto, Florida, and the Boston Bruins, who originally drafted him in the 5th round of the 2012 NHL Draft.