NHL Trade Rumors: 5 players Maple Leafs should target

OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 04: Detroit Red Wings Defenceman Mike Green (25) waits for the faceoff during first period National Hockey League action between the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2017, at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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The Toronto Maple Leafs should look to acquire some help if they hope to go on a deep playoff run. Here are five realistic players for them to target.

If there is any team that has shown how to rebuild properly, it’s the Toronto Maple Leafs. They tried, and failed, to rebuild many times under previous regimes, but ever since Lou Lamoriello and Kyle Dubas came in, they have steered the ship in the right direction.

But with the Atlantic Division being very top-heavy this year, the Leafs will be in tough to make it past the Boston Bruins or Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round — especially if they don’t have home-ice advantage. Last year’s playoff run, in which they pushed the Washington Capitals to six games, proved that this core can compete with anyone, but they’re still going to need some help.

The Leafs should be targeting depth centers and defensemen not named Chris Tanev and Luke Glendening at the trade deadline. They’re extremely deep on the wing, and their goaltending situation is rock solid. Since they’re only looking for short-term help, they’re likely going to target rentals. But that doesn’t mean they can’t re-sign if they perform beyond expectations in the playoffs.

RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 2: Derek Ryan #7 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck during an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings on February 2, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

5. Derek Ryan

Last season, the Leafs gave up a second-round pick for Brian Boyle to shore up their fourth-line center concerns. He played his role well and left his mark on their playoff run when he assisted on Kasperi Kapanen’s overtime winner in Game 2.

While you never look for much in a fourth-line center, Dominic Moore has simply not been effective. It was one thing when Matt Martin was in the lineup regularly, but now that Leo Komarov and Kapanen are playing together, they need a proper depth center to compliment those two and comfortably roll out four lines.

Enter Derek Ryan. He does everything you could possibly ask for out of a fourth-line center. His faceoff percentage is 56.1 percent this season, so he can be relied upon in the defensive zone. He has good possession numbers, clocking in a Corsi For percentage of 52.7 at even strength. And offensively, he’s having a solid year, with 26 points in 58 games.

Ryan’s a UFA at the end of the year, and only costs $1.45 million in cap space. Acquiring him for a late-round pick shouldn’t be too much to ask.

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