Jonathan Marchessault’s trade preference has Toronto written all over it

Another player to add to your trade boards: Jonathan Marchessault. Nashville has the big names and strong complementary players (Michael McCarron and Nick Perbix would be two), but I sometimes forget Marchessault, and now have been reminded a couple of times.

He has control, but there’s a willingness between team and player for something to happen. Unique in his case: his preference is somewhere with good minor hockey infrastructure for his children.

Marchessault looking to make sure his kids have a good hockey foundation is definitely something that we don't hear often but it shows a different side of free agency and why certain players won't go certain places.

However this request really does make one team stand out above the rest: The Toronto Maple Leafs.

Maple Leafs hold huge advantage if they want to add former Cup winner

It's no secret that the Greater Toronto Area and the city itself is one of the biggest and best areas to grow as a hockey player and the numerous high-level and elite leagues for young adults and children has set off several NHL careers.

There are so many U14-U17 leagues, as well as the entirety of the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League) so Marchessault's kids would be able to advance through the system no matter how old they get.

It might be a little frustrating for fans if the Maple Leafs bring him in only because it's yet another big contract ($5.5-million) for a player who is much nearer the end of his career than the start.

But this is a player who has won a Stanley Cup, has shown consistent playoff production, is still an elite player who had 40 goals only two seasons ago; he has a lot to offer and his environment just hasn't helped him at all.

If the Maple Leafs were to find a way to bring in Marchessault (without mortgaging their future) then here's how his placement in the lineup might look:

Marchessault - Matthews - Domi
Knies - Tavares - Nylander
Maccelli - Roy* - McMann*
Lorentz - Laughton* - Robertson*

* denotes a player who may be traded from Toronto this season.

If Toronto makes a few moves obviously the lineup looks different but if they are staying put for a playoff push, adding Marchessault alongside Matthews and Domi is a pretty big boost.

He's still a very good defensive player, and while he isn't uber-physical he still likes to throw hits and isn't afraid to muddy himself up so to speak.

With Toronto needing an improvement in the top-six (more specifically, a real playoff contributor) especially if they have the postseason in mind, adding Jonathan Marchessault is a really solid way to do it -- and they may have a huge advantage going into it too.