The Maple Leafs have been handed a clean shot at adding some inexpensive scoring depth, and Harrison Scott looks like the kind of waiver claim that can make sense on paper right away.
Scott was placed on waivers by the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, opening the door for Toronto if it wants to bolster its options at both the AHL and NHL levels. With the Maple Leafs already looking for more offense, he arrives as a potential outside addition rather than another internal call-up.
Toronto has already been working through its own pool of forwards. Miles Wood, acquired in the Kirill Marchenko blockbuster, has been called up, while AHL standout Bo Groulx is also being tried. Brendan Brisson is another name in the mix after tearing it up on the Marlies, and if he keeps producing at that pace, he could become a real option for the club.
If the Maple Leafs decide not to lean purely on what they already have, Scott is a pretty appealing waiver target. He’s 26, can play both wing and centre, and has a strong AHL track record.
After signing with the Stars out of Maine, he put up 18 goals and 32 points in his lone pro season. Before that, he scored 33 goals and finished with 62 points in 65 games at Maine, and he also had 26 points in 65 games for Bentley.
That background fits with the direction Toronto has been taking. The team’s new scouting department and renewed emphasis on the NCAA pipeline make Scott an easy player to imagine on its radar, especially with people around the organization likely familiar with what he brings.
From a cap standpoint, the move is straightforward. Scott carries an $875,000 salary and is signed for this season and the next, which makes him a low-cost bet for a team that can get hit hard by injuries.
The question is roster fit. He would have to earn his way into the picture at the AHL level first, and that’s not simple with the group Toronto already has. He’d need to beat out someone in the top six, where players like Brisson and captain Logan Shaw are currently standing out, or push a newcomer such as Henrik Rybinski, who has been solid to start, into a reduced role.
There is also the possibility Toronto tilts further toward offense in its bottom six, which could create more room for Scott. Either way, he profiles as a low-risk add who would give the organization another layer of insurance.
The catch is that claiming him would squeeze out someone else, and that’s the decision Toronto has to weigh. The window to figure it out is short, and the answer should come within 24 hours.
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