Maple Leafs May Have Found the Perfect Trade Partner After Devastating Injury News
The Toronto Maple Leafs could offer a helping hand to the New York Islanders after the Mathew Barzal news, but it's going to come at a cost for Lou Lamoriello.
It was a serious turn of events for the New York Islanders after star Mathew Barzal left after blocking a shot and things didn't look good. News wasn't positive as it looks like he'll be out for the foreseeable future.
While New York deals with a laundry list of injuries, they need reinforcements. If Lou Lamoriello wanted to help his team out, he should give his old crew in Toronto a call.
Toronto's Chance To Add Center Depth At Cheaper Cost
With the potential that New York's playoff aspirations exploded in their face, the team now is a potential seller ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. If Barzal is out for the remainder of the season as is speculated, it leaves them with a very thin forward group.
They do have Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee however with talks that Nelson and Palmieri might be gone, they need to add scoring and fast.
Which is why the Maple Leafs should jump on the chance to trade a few of their forwards in order to shore up a pivotal third line issue.
To Toronto:
To New York:
(F) Nicholas Robertson
(F) Pontus Holmberg
2026 1st Round Pick
It seems like an overpayment for Pageau but it addresses their needs and gives Toronto the center they covet.
Robertson can have a fresh start in New York and give them potentially a perennial 20-goal scorer meanwhile Holmberg can be a solid 3C/4C option that has a defensive skillset and is still trying to find his footing and gives New York an extra body up front.
The 2026 pick won't be one of importance unless the Maple Leafs completely tank next year, and the chance to add Pageau for this year and the next at only $5M is a pretty good deal all things considered.
A former fourth round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2011, Pageau offers the ability to score goals, win a ton of faceoffs, play both special teams units and doesn't mind throwing his 5'11, 185-pound frame around either.
This season he has 10 goals and 16 assists, and for his career has 155 goals and 195 assists in 767 games with time spent between the Senators and Islanders. He was traded to New York for a package of picks that later turned into Tyler Kleven and Ridly Greig.
If Toronto wants to add the perfect center to their team, they should see what pieces Lou Lamoriello wants in order to keep his season from falling apart but make sure Pageau is a top priority.
