With the All-Star break now behind us, the trade deadline looms large and is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It has been nearly 20 years since the Maple Leafs won a playoff round. Despite six-straight appearances in the Auston Matthews–Mitch Marner era, the team hasn’t been able to find any success in the postseason. With another first-round date with the Tampa Bay Lightning all but sealed, every effort from the management staff needs to help get them over the hump.
Remember, Matthews and William Nylander are scheduled for unrestricted free agency after next season, with Marner and John Tavares only under contract through 2024-25. General manager Kyle Dubas is once again looking at making a significant trade deadline move to try and support this core before it is too late.
Record
31-13-8, 2nd in the Atlantic
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$1.13MM in LTIR relief, 0/3 retention slots used, 49/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2023: TOR 1st, TOR 3rd, OTT 3rd, TOR 5th, TOR 6th
2024: TOR 1st, TOR 2nd, TOR 4th, TOR 5th, TOR 6th, TOR 7th, OTT 7th
Trade Chips
At last year’s deadline, the Maple Leafs were able to hold onto their first-round pick, moving three seconds and a third for Mark Giordano, Colin Blackwell, and Ilya Lyubushkin. This year, that top selection probably has to be on the table in any negotiations that include an impact player. The 2024 first-round pick is also probably in play, though beyond that, there isn’t a ton of draft capital they can move.
So it comes to the prospect pool for Toronto, which is also relatively shallow. Matthew Knies was seemingly untouchable last summer, but perhaps the Maple Leafs would consider moving him this time around in the right deal. Nick Robertson would have been a piece, but given his latest serious injury, he’s likely off the table. Topi Niemela and Roni Hirvonen are mid-level prospects at best that likely can’t bring back a serious difference-maker by themselves.
The focus could turn to some roster players, though that avenue also doesn’t hold much value for rebuilding clubs. Alexander Kerfoot could be included in a deal to clear some cap space, but he shouldn’t really be considered a trade chip. The young defensemen – Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren in particular – are likely too valuable to Toronto’s future to make them available.
Among teams looking to add at the deadline, Toronto probably has one of the worst asset pools to pull from. That means Dubas and company will have to look for creative ways to improve the roster instead of getting into a bidding war on the top names. It’s hard to imagine them winning a player like Timo Meier, for instance, when they have to compete with deep, young prospect pools like the ones in New Jersey or Buffalo.
That’s not to say they won’t try. Toronto has added every year to try and fill gaps on the roster, and this year should be no different.
Other potential trade chips: F Fraser Minten, F Nick Moldenhauer, F Pierre Engvall, F Pontus Holmberg
Team Needs
1) Top-six winger: There is a glaring hole in the Maple Leafs lineup, and it’s been there for a number of years now. The second-line left wing spot has been filled by a number of different players – Kerfoot, Ilya Mikheyev, Alex Galchenyuk, Calle Jarnkrok – but none of them have been a perfect fit. It’s why a player like Meier continues to get linked to Toronto and why every other winger likely will be speculated on in the coming weeks.
2) Third-line center: For a team that is usually considered “loaded” offensively, it might seem weird to see two forwards listed here. The truth is, though, that Toronto is a relatively strong defensive team, with eight capable NHL defensemen on the roster already. Could they improve the back end? Sure. But a true third-line center that can drive some offense would be more valuable.
David Kampf, currently in that role, set a career-high last season with 26 points and has just 32 goals in his 369-game NHL career. One of the problems the Maple Leafs have faced in recent years is that if the Matthews and Tavares lines get shut down, the team has no chance of scoring. Getting someone who can elevate his linemates and drive play on the third line would move them a lot closer than a marginal upgrade on defense.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Mathews will sign in Arizona or with a California team when his deal is up, The Leafs window is closing.
I think he enjoys the spotlight of playing in Toronto. If he wants to fade into obscurity and join a moribund franchise, then yeah, maybe he’ll head to Arizona.
I could see Mathews head back to the US to play, a lot of American players do when free to move.
Lots of American teams can keep him in the spot light, not like Leafland is the only place! Lol
I enjoy seeing all these predictions that Matthews will leave Toronto when his contract is up, especially considering that he’s publicly stated in the past that he likes Toronto and sees himself staying. I especially love how people say “ohh he’ll leave Toronto for Arizona because Toronto can’t get out of the first round.” Why!? So you can’t get out of the first round so you’ll join a team that can’t get out of the basement!? Please be real people.
Ya C-Daddy Mathews is currently getting stupid money for his signature you think he’d be making 250-300 a pop if he’s in Phoenix?
Hockey is firmly the #4 sport in most big American media markets. He’s the most famous athlete in Toronto.
I’d melt it all down and jettison Kerfoot,Murray,Kampf,Hervonin and grab Demko.
Jacob in AZ wouldn’t be too bad either. He’s the only one that I could see Sandin going the other way.
Toews is probably going to be available and it’s going to cost your 2nds and 3rds not 1sts. Kane is D O N E as that hip is toast.
Knies needs to be brought in asap to see what he has on that 2nd line.
This is where Riodon really has hurt the Leafs in terms of trade bait and ability to add talent to the club. Very unfortunate.
Would argue Topi’s step back in development has hurt the leafs more than Amirovs injury
They aren’t getting Jacob without giving up a 1st and Knies in all likelihood.
Toews however is interesting. if he was interested in coming, he would be a great 3rd C addition. Leafs would need help fitting the number under the cap but agree their lack of draft capital make him more likely than O’Reilly or Meier
My only issue with your statement is who wants Murray right now? He is battling injuries again and has a big cap hit for someone who isn’t a clear number 1 goalie
Who wants Kerfoot as a rental for 3.5 million? Only a playoff team would be interested in that, and to what extent? , I can’t see a rebuilding team give up anyone significant for a Kerfoot rental, or take his salary as a favor to us.
I just don’t see anything big happening, they should have made a major move in the offseason, moving Nylander was the move, he is the epitome of what’s wrong with this team, all offense and absolutely nothing else, his one handed poke checks on defense do not count as effort, idc if he scores 45 goals this year, I would take a 20goal winger who shows effort on both ends of the ice any day. 3 on 3 every opposing player rushes Nylander cause it’s well known he will not even try to stop you
moving nylander was not the move. look at his season. whether you love him or hate him, he has more value now than he did in the summer.
Which games have you been watching the past 2 yrs? Certainly not watching Willie play that’s a fact. You should stick to Baseball it’s more your speed Justajaysfan, LOL. He’s been leading the Leafs in G’s & Pts pretty much all season long & you want him traded, oh come on man get real.
Go Leafs Go!!!!
the leafs have 8 guys playing defense who can play in the NHL but no real shut down guy. They also have #44 who is playing forward on the back end. The leafs would be good to look at a true DEFENSE first guy.
They maybe looking at some small acquisition but I don’t see anything major happening. They will be looking for affordable players who they think could fit in the team. I don’t see a Toews or Meier or a Chychrun coming here.
I think we are looking for a Branden Hagel or Nick Paul trade like the lightning made last year. Nobody thought a lot of those deals at the time and just thought they would be depth for a deep lightning team, meanwhile those 2 players helped bury us in the 1st round.
We dont have cap space or the prospect pool to acquire anyone significant. Doesn’t mean they won’t try and I hope I’m wrong but it just seems like the most logical solution
Vanreimsdyk
I guess the first question is what is Kyle working with, we know that he has a first, third,fifth and sixth rnd picks for 2023 draft. Has Kyle got the go ahead to use their 2024 picks other than the first rnd pick. If Kyle has the go ahead to use this year’s picks and prospects that’s not alot to work with considering what Kyle need’s to do to be successful. But if he can dip into the 2024 picks that gives Kyle enough asset’s to get the job done as long as there’s a 50% salary retention on trade one and two then Kyle should be able to aquire the player’s required for success. Let’s say Kyle has this year’s first and 24’s second that should get Kyle his defender and second line winger with salary retention Kyle should have enough to aquire a third line option. One combination I’d like to see is Knies when he arrives with Holmberg and McMann,to create a fourth line they’ve got some size they bring speed and physicality, heck they might even score a goal here and there. This is something Sheldon should give some thought to, the thing about that is you put them together now Sheldon has time to get them playing the way the he expects. You want you’re fourth line to go out there and keep that puck out of your end and create as much havoc as possible in the offensive zone. As far as I’m concerned what a lift you’re bench would get from watching the young player’s leaving it all on the line, that’s something this group need’s an energy line. Now the conversation nobody wants to hear, that’s the elephant in the room and that’s Murray’s health going forward, my question is would you take that bet. This could become a migraine for Kyle between now and the deadline, what would happen to Kyle’s plans then. I’m not even going to try and guess who Kyle has targeted and I don’t read much into rumors, I will say in my opinion you’re all right the Leaf’s Need a Left winger that slots onto the second line,a top four defender that brings a physical presence, an upgrade on the third line, who those player’s should be I’ll leave that to Kyle and his scout’s no sense trying to guess the un-guess’able when it comes to Kyle anyways. I’m not expecting either Keerfoot or Engvall maybe even Sandin to be wearing Blue&White when all’s said and done. Sandin I would only expect to be moved if a defender is coming back. Leaf’s back in action Friday against CBJ might even be watching a Leaf’s future defender in Gavrikov. They didn’t finish the way they wanted before the break, let’s start it off with a two point game. Cheerz
Desperately need some physicality and grit in the top 6, a shutdown checking line and a lockdown defensive pair. Every cup team has those things.