Trade Proposal Emerges Sending Captain Tavares For a Number One Defenseman

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Wade Messier
July 15, 2023 (5:26 PM)

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There's never a dull day in the Leafs fanbase, and trade proposals are never in short supply. A new trade proposal has just emerged that would see the Leafs trade their captain for a top-pair defenseman.

Tavares For Doughty

That's right, some fans are proposing that the Leafs should trade their Captain, John Tavares, to Los Angeles in exchange for veteran defenseman Drew Doughty.

While this is just a trade proposal, the possibility for success is certainly there.

Doughty is entering the 5th year of his current contract, which earns him $11 million annually. If you include this upcoming season, Doughty has four seasons left on his current deal.

Tavares is entering the 6th year of his current contract, which also sees him earn $11 million annually. Tavares has two years left on his current deal, including this upcoming season.

Salary Retention?

If Brad Treliving could convince the Kings to retain a portion of Doughty's massive salary, the Leafs could make out like bandits.

If L.A. retained 30% of Doughty's contract for the remained of his deal, he would only count for $7.7 million against Toronto's salary cap. With Tavares' deal expiring soon, the Leafs could end up with the better player long-term, and at a reduced cost.

While there's nothing saying that L.A. would agree to this trade, it's pretty clear they're in "win-now" mode. L.A. has an excess of NHL defensemen and could use a massive reinforcement up front such as Tavares.

In addition to this, the deal would get L.A. off the hook for paying the full price of Doughty's contract for the next four years, while only paying Tavares his full price for two.

If this is a trade that is ever floated across either of these GMs' desks, they should seriously consider it.

As Seen on CapFriendly