Maple Leafs Urged to Trade for Underrated 700-Game Veteran As Trade Deadline Looms
The Toronto Maple Leafs would do themselves a favour by looking at one name that has been floated about but hasn't had much connection to the team until now.
The list of names that the Maple Leafs have been linked to is long and extensive and ranges from some top tier names like Mikko Rantanen to solid low-end options like Jake Evans.
There's a lot of pressure on GM Brad Treliving to make some type of move and though concerns about some potential big injuries are thankfully not as serious as anticipated, he can safely focus on adding the third line center the team covets so highly.
One name who would be doing the Maple Leafs a huge favor and could give them all the help they need comes from Long Island, and it's not Brock Nelson.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau would be a perfect fit for the Maple Leafs; let's take a look at why.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau Perfect Roster And Salary Fit For Maple Leafs
They don't call him the 'Honey Badger' for nothing. Though smaller in stature, Pageau is as relentless as they come and fits perfectly into what Craig Berube envisions his lineup to have.
Pageau would add some much needed intangibles to the team and provide a lot of things the team is sorely lacking.
Winning face-offs? He has a near 60% this season, and nearly 55% for his career. Hits? He's averaged 173 hits per season through his 13-year NHL journey.
Penalty killing? One of the best. Defensive positioning and hockey IQ? Check.
Want scoring too? He's hit double digits the last five seasons and is a former 20-goal scorer and can add both power play and shorthanded scoring prowess.
In 54 games this season, Pageau has 10 goals and 17 assists while adding 21 PIM, 117 hits, and winning 59.8% of his face-offs.
He's everything the team could want in a third line center and his cost isn't terrible either. While he's a $5M cap, that lowers with a rising cap next season and a $3.5M third line center with his skillset is a bargain deal.
His team is better with him on the ice, and has finished in the Top-20 for the Selke three times. Toronto's third line instantly improves and makes them much more balanced.
Knies - Matthews - Marner
Holmberg - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Pageau - Domi
Lorentz - Kampf - Jarnkrok
Pageau is good enough to cover for Domi's mishaps on defense, and will add a lot more toughness to a line that's generally been lacking in that department.
When Jarnkrok comes back, sliding him on the fourth with Kampf and Lorentz gives Toronto a defensively focused shutdown line that can make life miserable for opponents.
Pageau won't cost as much as Nelson or other names like Dylan Cozens or Brayden Schenn and Toronto could part ways with a pick or two and a mid-tier prospect like Nikita Grebenkin to get it done.
Whichever move Brad Treliving does is going to make the Maple Leafs better. Though if he wanted a surefire option to bring aboard, he should look no further than Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
