Insider Reports Leafs Eyeing Blockbuster Move Ahead of Trade Deadline

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Chris Gerics
December 3, 2024 (8:14)

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NHL insiders believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to make a big splash ahead of the 2024-25 trade deadline.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs needing to add to their forward depth whilst not sacrificing on defense, Brad Treliving has to be careful to add both what he needs and make sure he doesn't overpay for it.

According to the Real Kyper and Bourne show, the Maple Leafs are thinking about pulling off a crazy trade that would shake things up.

Analyst Nick Kypreos was talking about how the Maple Leafs are going to make a deal before the deadline and the use of Pontus Holmberg in the lineup is more of a placeholder to buy them some breathing room:

"Holmberg can buy them time. Holmberg is buying them time for the eventual trade their gonna make. Looking for a center. Go big, this is the year to go big. It'll feel like another Ryan O'Reilly trade."

Co-host Justin Bourne asked about the timeframe for when it'll be done and Kypreos answered:

"Still a cap issue, we're excited the [salary] cap's going up. But it's not going up in the next three months, so there's some juggling on that front, and see how things open up.

Teams are now figuring out the contenders and pretenders, but they're winning, they're in a great position to win the Atlantic, there's no race to get a centerman today."

It's a huge prediction from Kypreos, who isn't shy about letting his opinions be known. A name that was thrown around by his co-hosts was Nazem Kadri, and with rumblings about him being on the trade block, there could be a reunion in the works.

Kadri fits perfectly with the Maple Leafs, not only because he can add a stable veteran presence that scores, plays solid defense, wins faceoffs, and has a Stanley Cup win. Over his career since leaving Toronto, he's had 301 points in 367 games including an 87-point explosion in 2021-22 when he won the Cup.

FAQ: Maple Leafs Insider Believes Team Is Going To Make Huge Trade

Q1: Which insider thinks Toronto would make a big trade and why?

A1: Maple Leafs analyst Nick Kypreos believes Toronto is going to trade for the center they need and they're going to do so because according to him this is the year to go "all-in."

Q2: Who is Toronto going to trade for?

A2: It's unknown who exactly Toronto would target however a name that consistently floats around is former Leaf Nazem Kadri. Kadri would be what Brad Treliving needs for both offense and defense and be a key piece to a long playoff run.

In closing, Toronto should make a blockbuster trade for a center because this is the year they have felt the most complete in a long time, and it would be a waste for the Maple Leafs to not try and do what they can to finally win the Stanley Cup.