Early Trade Candidates Emerge for the Toronto Maple Leafs That Could Be a Perfect Fit, per James Mirtle
The Athletic's James Mirtle recently put out an article regarding potential trade candidates for the Maple Leafs. Let's take a quick look at each player's fit.
There are several options that the Maple Leafs can choose from in order to fill their center depth.
They could hopefully entrust rookie Fraser Minten to lead the charge, or perhaps find a body through the trade market.
The latter option has its pros and cons, and while there are some great names out there, do they truly fit with the Maple Leafs vision?
James Mirtle of The Athletic recently released an article entitled 'Maple Leafs' trade targets: Which centres would be the best fit in Toronto?' and gave his insights into the players he believes is the best candidates for a new Toronto game plan.
So let's take a look at the names that Mirtle thinks would be a good fit, including one from Toronto's past.
1. Yanni Gourde (Seattle Kraken)
We've previously touched on Gourde's potential and the 3C isn't necessarily the biggest body but boy does he play like it.
Mirtle talks about Gourde's playoff acumen when he was a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he definitely could help Toronto in that regard.
With 42 points in 82 games in the playoffs and a clutch factor like no one else, he would immediately boost Toronto's productivity now and in the future.
Gourde is older, a free agent, and has a very expensive contract coming in at $5.17M; an expensive option with only 6 points this season.
He would cost Toronto a pretty penny but if they value Gourde's skillset; they might bite the bullet.
Potential Fit: Not a cheap option but a solid choice if they can afford the cap hit.
2. Trent Frederic (Boston Bruins)
What a coup this would be for Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs.
Nabbing a 26-year-old behemoth of a player who can both energize and produce would sure make Toronto one of the favorites in the East.
However, Mirtle gives a very interesting caveat: He plays for arguably Toronto's most heated rival over the last decade and Boston isn't necessarily going to trade him away especially if they can turn things around with their new head coach.
The Bruins are very high on him, and while there haven't been contract discussions yet, there are sure to be extension talks in the near future.
A very even 100 points in 300 games doesn't jump off the page but he was a big part of Boston's powerplay and is an absolute steal at $2.3M.
Potential Fit: A great fit on paper but the logistics make it too hard to work out.
3. Radek Faksa (St. Louis Blues)
There's a theme here folks.
Toronto likes their big-bodied players and Faksa fills that role. 6'3, 220+ pounds of pure muscle, he can command the faceoff circle and has tons of playoff experience and the potential to help the Maple Leafs.
It's a great fit, though I have to agree with Mirtle when he speaks about Faksa's offensive potential.
As much as a shutdown elite faceoff man would be enticing, it doesn't solve their scoring woes.
He has 204 points in 658 games, not too spectacular, and while he offers great potential defensively, he doesn't offer anything different than Toronto's other centers.
No doubt having Faksa on the ice would open up more space for Toronto's wingers, but they need an offensive weapon to help them more than space would.
He can also do this too.
He is costing St. Louis $3.25M and Toronto doesn't want to pay that full amount, so Mirtle suggests salary retention on St. Louis' behalf.
It's a bit expensive and it's not flashy, but if Toronto wants to help their playoff run by adding defensively, it's a good choice.
Potential Fit: Option B if all else fails.
4. Sean Kuraly (Columbus Blue Jackets)
A name Toronto is quite familiar with, Kuraly was a mainstay on a Boston Bruins team that consistently humiliated the Maple Leafs in the playoffs.
Not an offensive dynamo by any means, Kuraly can contribute offensively and had his best output in 2021-22 with 14 goals and 30 points.
Another big body at 6'2, 215 pounds, Kuraly is the answer to Toronto's fourth line, not their third.
He is too inconsistent to add there but would be able to find a comfortable spot on the fourth line.
Skating with Steven Lorentz and Alex Steeves or Ryan Reaves to create an intimidating fourth line that flies around and throws hits could be the spark that helps Toronto win tough games.
He fits the mold of Craig Berube but doesn't offer much more than Toronto already has, and costs too much to justify it.
Potential Fit: Doesn't.
Brock Nelson (New York Islanders)
Much like Gourde, we've touched a bit on Nelson, but he's a great fit.
Coming off a streak of 107 goals over his last three seasons, Nelson is the scoring punch Toronto needs, and at 6'4 he fits the Berube build and plays like it too, not afraid to get down and dirty when the situation asks him to.
There isn't much to dislike about Nelson, and while he is older, that doesn't mean much if he can contribute the way he does.
Unfortunately, it might cost a bit too much as Mirtle says:
He also costs $6M and while Toronto could ask Lou Lamoriello for some salary retention, New York isn't throwing in the towel just yet and doesn't want to lose him unless they heave the season away.
Potential Fit: Fits like a glove, but it's not up to Toronto to decide.
Nick Bjugstad (Utah HC)
We talked about Bjugstad's potential and what Toronto could gain from adding him to their team.
Much like Nelson, he's in his early thirties and while he doesn't offer the same scoring punch as Nelson, he can certainly put the puck in the net.
Also, at a towering 6'6, he adds an intimidation factor in addition to elite faceoff skill.
The one knock Mirtle has on Bjugstad is that he doesn't kill penalties often and could use some defensive work.
But if any team could change that it's Toronto and Lane Lambert; who has made Toronto's defense better and could offer some great advice to Bjugstad down the line.
He's not that expensive and if Utah were to suffer a freefall and look to sell off assets, Bjugstad could make a great fit for the Maple Leafs.
Potential Fit: Fantastic and should be a prime target for Toronto given his price and skillset.
Ryan O'Reilly (Nashville Predators)
What a turnaround from a year ago if O'Reilly were to be re-acquired by the Maple Leafs.
After helping them win their first playoff series since 2004, he departed for Nashville in free agency and had issues with some in the locker room.
But since Nashville is in 31st place in the NHL and with no trade protection, could a reunion be in order?
It depends on if O'Reilly is over whatever bothered him the first time. He's on a losing team in Nashville and they are going to blow things up if they don't figure it up.
This season, he has 11 points in 19 games as one of the bright spots for the Predators and comes at a reasonable cost at $4.5M (with salary retention and other contracts it works out)
It would be really nice to see O'Reilly find success, as he's a great guy both on and off the ice, however if he hasn't moved on then it would make things miserable for both parties.
Potential Fit: Incredibly well, but it's going to be a fight with 31 other teams, and O'Reilly has to want to be here too.
As you can see, the Toronto Maple Leafs have many options to consider, and Brad Treliving has a lot of work ahead of him.
| POLL | ||
Who is the best trade option out of this list for the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Brock Nelson | 317 | 35.7 % |
| Ryan O'Reilly | 203 | 22.9 % |
| Yanni Gourde | 162 | 18.3 % |
| Other | 205 | 23.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
