The NHL trade deadline is near and the NFL trade rumors are in full force, but who could the Toronto Maple Leafs trade for and trade away?
The rumor mill surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to burn hot.
As the club looks to enter into the realm of legitimate contention for Lord Stanley’s trophy, few would trouble the notion that the Buds’ season has been one for the books.
Elite performances from the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, Frederik Andersen and Morgan Rielly ensures that Mike Babcock’s men remain at the focal point of attention around the league on any given night. Add the fact that Toronto is home to one of hockey’s most depth-ridden cores and you have yourself an argument: perhaps it is not just possible, but indeed plausible that 2019 will be remembered as the year when the Leafs embarked upon a memorable playoff run.
There’s no hiding from the fact that the Buds have almost all of the tools in place to take a serious shot at a Stanley Cup. But if dreams of quashing postseason ghosts are to be translated into a reality, some fine tinkering must be done. The right side of the team’s blueline needs an upgrade, and a case for adding some grit can certainly be made.
Considering that the acquisition of Jake Muzzin did not require Kyle Dubas to ship out any of the organization’s most prized assets, the GM’s next move shall surely take the form of a ‘money-in, money-out’ — or ‘assets-in, assets out’ — deal.
But who might the Leafs be willing to move? As I see it, seven possible candidates have the potential to fill this void. Their names, along with a brief description of why they may be a fit for Dubas’ magic, are as follows.
Attractive trade chips
Andreas Johnsson: Fresh in the midst of the hottest streak of his young career, the 24-year-old Swede is (arguably) the Buds’ best left winger. As of late, he’s managed to marry a firm degree of consistency with finesse and has brought out the best in his linemates ever since the new year. While most Leafs fans would scoff at a prospect of this nature, the reality is as follows: If — and only if — trading Johnsson is part of Dubas’ plans, the time to undertake this course of action is now. “Mango’s” value is at an all-time high, so including him in a deal would promise to yield quite the return.
Connor Brown: Put simply, fans are torn on the future of No. 28. For some, he’s a valuable grinder — a defense-minded forward who Babcock can seemingly slot anywhere in his lineup with the knowledge that a strong two-way game is on the horizon. For others, he’s nothing short of frustrating — a talented enough winger, yes, but one who is often absent from the scoresheet while occupying $2.1 million per season on the fourth line (especially problematic for an organization looking to balance a looming cap crunch). Expect to see Brown as a staple of trade talks, as his skill set lends itself to movability across the league.