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Maple Leafs place Brooks Laich on waivers

Tampa Bay Lightning v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 29: Brooks Laich #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on February 29, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Lightning defeated the Maple Leafs 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

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Just one day after saying that he wants another shot in the NHL to win a Stanley Cup and that his best hockey might be ahead of him, the Toronto Maple Leafs have placed veteran forward Brooks Laich on waivers.

The 33-year-old Laich has been with the Maple Leafs organization since the middle of last season but has spent this entire season playing for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

He has just one goal and five assists in 22 games this season at that level.

Given Laich’s comments yesterday it is pretty clear that he still believes he has something to offer a Stanley Cup contender. Unfortunately for him there does not seem to be anything to suggest that when taking an objective look at his current position and recent performance. The Maple Leafs already placed him on waivers at the start of the season (he cleared), and his overall production has steadily dropped for several years now.

In 81 games last season between the Capitals and Maple Leafs he had just two goals, 12 assists, and was only 40 percent in the face-off circle. Another year older, combined with only six points in 22 games in the AHL, isn’t likely to inspire many teams to jump at him.

With a salary cap number of $4.5 million ($1.2 million for the rest of the season for any team that claims him) he would not be a cheap addition, either.