Jordan Kyrou is available and the Maple Leafs have exactly the package St. Louis is asking for
Photo credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Blues are putting Jordan Kyrou on the trade block and the Toronto Maple Leafs have everything they need to make a blockbuster deal.
Jordan Kyrou is a three-time 30-goal scorer who is on the trade block according to Jeremy Rutherford. But his price won't be cheap, and it's going to cost GM John Chayka a king's ransom that will cost him Easton Cowan, Nick Robertson, and a first. He better hope things work out in the end.
His name had been thrown around the trade rumour mill since before the trade deadline, and while the Blues don't necessarily need to give him away, there is a big haul waiting for them if they decide to make a deal, and a new report shows that the team is still dangling him, so long as they get the right pieces.
St. Louis wants an established player a prospect and a pick and the Maple Leafs can match every piece
Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic revealed that Kyrou is going to be shopped around but the return is going to be one that may push a lot of teams away:
I believe that the Blues will try to move Jordan Kyrou, but it's hard to see teams giving them an established player, a prospect and a draft pick, which is what they might want.
One team that needs to be on the ball when it comes to preparing a package for Kyrou is the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they need to have someone to give Auston Matthews a hand and slotting Kyrou on his wing is the perfect solution.
Desperate to find a replacement for the loss of Mitch Marner's defensive play in the top-six, Kyrou is someone who has gotten Selke votes in the past, and has a career 55.4 CF% so he always seems to have the puck on his stick.
He's equally as good a scorer as he is a playmaker, is an elite two-way player, a demon on the power-play, and as disciplined as anyone on the ice - it's the perfect fit. Plus, he makes only $8.125-million until 2031 so it's not only a cheap way to improve, but he's locked up for his prime.
Trading Nick Robertson plus Easton Cowan and a first round pick is the price and Chayka has to decide whether to pay it
When it comes to the return, Toronto has to sacrifice a few very good assets in order to bring him along but it would be well worth it (but sting nonetheless):
To Toronto:
(F) Jordan Kyrou
To St. Louis:
(F) Easton Cowan
(F) Nick Robertson
2027 1st-round Pick
(F) Nick Robertson
2027 1st-round Pick
Cowan is the centrepiece prospect that Alex Steen would love to build around, and he's already made a statement at the NHL level, so it's not like he needs to wait a few years to debut. Robertson is an established top-nine player who just set career highs in every offensive category, is due for a big raise, and also could use a change of scenery.
That first-rounder might be another thorn in the side of Maple Leafs fans because they lose another draft asset, but if the goal is compete now before Auston Matthews leaves - they have to throw everything at the wall.
Chayka has to make sure that Kyrou is going to be worth it, especially because it's going to be the last chance he has to keep Matthews around. Gavin McKenna aside, the captain wants to see real action and real players being brought in. If Chayka has faith in Kyrou and he doesn't gel; it's a complete disaster.
Not only would it likely push Matthews out the door but you've also just given up a potential superstar in Cowan, a consistent and reliable scorer in Robertson and yet another draft pick - quite the package for a lot of hope.
There's no world where John Chayka would trade Easton Cowan unless it brought him someone or something incredible in return. But with his back against the wall, his desperate Hail Mary trade might be the one that completely changes the franchise.
For the better this time.
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