As the deadline to make deals draws near rumours are flying. Most, we can be assured, are nowhere near the truth, but we’ll talk about them for entertainment sake.
Tampa Bay and Florida have both made fairly big swings already, which has a ton of people begging the Leafs to do the same in order to keep pace. Don’t buy into that theory. This core hasn’t won nearly enough in the playoffs to justify trading multiple 1st round selections and/or good young roster players.
For those that agree with that statement, feel free to research Brad Treliving’s past deadline deals and rest easy. When your biggest deadline acquisition is Tyler Toffoli, you’re not exactly the type to swing for the fences.
The Leafs waived Ryan Reaves today and the assumption is they didn’t do it for fun. The move opens at least $1.15M in capspace, but will open $1.35M if he’s claimed by another club.
It sounds like the ask for Brayden Schenn has quieted the noise around him. His caphit and age were always going to be troublesome, so, while I still believe that the player himself would be a great addition, it’s likely good news if the Leafs don’t ante up and pay Doug Armstrong’s exorbitant demands for a player in decline.
Scott Laughton is still being heralded as a prime candidate for the Leafs’ need at 3C. Like Schenn, my hope is that this is smoke and no fire. Laughton has been used as a winger far too much for me to believe that he’s the answer down the middle, while some believe that the price Tampa paid to acquire Bjorkstrand and Gourde will only strengthen Danny Briere’s resolve in asking for a 1st round pick for Laughton. Again, it’s less about the player and more about the price to acquire him that would make me turn away.
It’s now rumoured that the Leafs have kicked tires on Brock Nelson, but like Schenn and Laughton the price is set high. Centres aren’t plentiful on the trade market, so it makes sense that a guy like Nelson will fetch a solid return for the Islanders if they decide to move him. With that said, Nelson and Kyle Palmieri were offered contract extensions today. They may not have a long time to decide to sign or not.
It’s also been said that the Leafs have asked about Mikko Rantanen. The ask from Carolina is Matthew Knies. I think if Rantanen were signed to an extension it would make you think about pulling the trigger, but there’s more to it than just moving Knies. For starters, it’s likely that they’re asking for Knies plus, considering that Rantanen is a true superstar in the league. It’s also worth considering that if you sign Rantanen it could mean squeezing out one of Tavares and/or Marner, due to a lack of capspace. If you’re trading Marner and Knies for Rantanen the deal looks a little off all of a sudden. If Marner is to walk away this summer anyway, then the Leafs can bid on Rantanen in July and will have the space to do it. Having a Rantanen, Matthews and Nylander top line next year is awful un-Canadian for my taste, but there’s most certainly talent there.
If Brad Treliving went from Tyler Toffoli to Mikko Rantanen as his top deadline addition it would be one hell of a jump.
There’s no smoke around Jean-Gabriel Pageau, but there should be and the Leafs should be involved.
One player that also doesn’t have any smoke around him but could be an option for Toronto is Cody Glass. A 6’3″ 200lb, right shooting 25 year old that has been asked to play a different role this season, Glass would be a buy low option that could pan out. In previous years with Nashville he was given PP time but no PK time, but this season he is being handed PK time and no PP time. He has been used as a centre at times in his career, but hasn’t managed to fully stay there. However, his FO% is up this seasson, he’s being used as as 4C as often as not and it’s that experience that could make him a good target. His career high of 35pts came 2 seasons ago, so there’s potential there as well. With the Penguins having just traded for Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn, it’s possible that they are willing to move out a player like Glass at 50% retained. Lastly, with 4 goals and 15pts in 51 games, compared to Robertson’s 11 goals and 17pts in 54 games and considering Robertson gets more PP time and far more offensive zone starts, could a straight swap of the two players work for everybody?
Veteran defender Erik Johnson of the Philadelphia Flyers is possibly on the move. Low cost to acquire and also a big, veteran RD for the playoffs.
Luke Kunin is being held out of the Sharks’ lineup for trade purposes tonight. Some like his fit for the Leafs. He, too, showed offensive potential a couple of years ago and, also like Glass, has had that offensive production fall off. He loves to hit and he isn’t afraid to block shots, so he has a place on my team any day. I’m not sold on him as a 3C, but I’m not 100% sold on Glass for that role either and I just built a case for him to be acquired. Opinions are fantastic. If Kunin, in your opinion, is the better fit, I can’t disagree.
Utah is rarely mentioned by anybody in the media. One thing we do know is that Matias Maccelli, a 24 year old that scored 106pts in 146 games over the past two seasons but is having a down year, is being scratched because their belief if that their lineup is too small. Maccelli is listed at 5’11” 185lbs. For those of us at puckinleafs, and I know there are a few, that are hoping to see 6’4″ 220lb Jack McBain, or 6’6″ 205lb Nick Bjugstad head to Toronto, we’re probably out of luck.
Mario Ferraro is also being held out by the Sharks for trade purposes. He’s a warrior on the blueline and I can only assume that he’d be fantastic in the playoffs. Mark me down as a fan.
Chicago’s Connor Murphy would also be a dream for this blueline. With Chris Tanev on the sidelines the Leafs blueline has looked shaky. If that happens in the playoffs it’s lights out for the blue and white. Adding a blueliner might be more important than adding a centre.
Staying with Chicago, Jason Dickinson hasn’t been mentioned lately either. He’s likely to stay with the Hawks but if he could be added to the Leafs he’d be a fan favourite immediately. Like Ferraro, his game is built around the battle.
Seattle has already moved Yanni Gourde, which leaves them without any centres that I can imagine them trading. However, Jamie Oleksiak still makes a ton of sense for the Leafs in my opinion. Simon Benoit, as much as I’d hate to see him go, would make sense to send the other way. It would leave the Leafs with an imbalance of LD vs RD, but Oleksiak’s size simply makes too much sense for this GM and Coach.
Ryan Strome isn’t the 2-way centre they need, but he’s a right shot and the Leafs have historically needed offense in the playoffs to push them through. I’m not against adding a pure offensive centre to the mix like him. Afterall, adding a defensively responsible centre to pivot between Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson (assuming they remain), isn’t about to make the coach trust that line, as they’ll just drag him down. Maybe throwing caution to the wind and tossing out a line just to score isn’t such a bad idea. Afterall, defense is what they’re paying Kampf for, as it certainly isn’t offense.