The Toronto Maple Leafs were one of the teams that went heavy on invitations to veterans still searching for contracts. Among the players they brought in on professional tryout agreements, two of the bigger names have been cut from camp.
Curtis Glencross and Devin Setoguchi, two players with multiple quality NHL seasons under their belts, were on the list of those released by the Maple Leafs Sunday. Mitchell Marner, the club’s selection at fourth overall in this year’s draft, was sent back to his junior team as well.
Brad Boyes, another one of the Leafs’ higher-profile camp invitees remains in camp and looks poised to make the team after Glencross and Setoguchi were released.
Glencross is not far removed from being one of the more sought-after trade deadline targets in the NHL last season. After a less-than-stellar run with the Washington Capitals follwing a trade from the Calgary Flames, he was unable to cash in on unrestricted free agency. He might be able to catch on with another team lacking depth, but clearly this summer and fall has not gone as the veteran would have hoped.
Setoguchi meanwhile was trying to rebuild both his reputation and career with his camp invite in Toronto. The veteran forward, who appeared in just 12 games with the Flames last season before being sent down to the minors, checked himself into rehab after the season. It may be difficult for him to find work at the NHL level even after his efforts to improve off the ice considering the steep decline in his play over the last few years. At 28, however, there's still time for him to get back into the mix eventually.
Glencross is a veteran of 507 NHL games and has 275 points, 35 of which came in 71 games last season. Setoguchi has 471 games of NHL experience and 249 career points.
The Maple Leafs are now down to 42 players on their camp roster after Sunday’s moves.