Massive Development For The Leafs and Erik Karlsson
There has been a massive update for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their pursuit of reigning Norris winner Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson Confirms He Spoke With The Leafs
Erik Karlsson was recently in Sweden to receive a massive award: the Golden Puck. The Golden Puck is the award given to the best Swedish hockey player and after registering 101 points as a defenseman, Karlsson ran away with the award.
A report out of Sweden that provided a major update regarding Erik Karlsson's trade status has been released to the public.
Karlsson has confirmed that the Leafs are one of the four main teams he has talked to for a potential trade destination but wants to make sure he goes to the best team.
Is Toronto The Best Team?
While it is up for interpretation whether or not the best team means the most competitive or the best fit, the Leafs fit the mold for both.
Among the four teams Karlsson mentioned, Toronto finished behind only Carolina in the standings but was only two points behind them with 111. Seattle and Pittsburgh finished with 100 and 91 points respectively last season.
However, if the best team means the best fit, the Leafs surpass Carolina easily.
Carolina has potentially five top-pairing defensemen already (Slavin, Burns, Pesce, Skjei, Orlov) so there will be less room for Karlsson while Toronto could slot Karlsson in on the top pair seamlessly. While Toronto's blue line is a bit more loaded than Pittsburgh's or Seattle's, they offer a unique blend of competitiveness, star power, and opportunity for Karlsson.
If Toronto manages to clear up enough cap space for a Karlsson acquisition, there is no reason why they would not be the runaway favorite.
As read on Maple Leafs Insider - Norris Trophy winner confirms he's had discussions with the Leafs about a potential trade
| POLL | ||
Where will Karlsson land? | ||
| Toronto | 1891 | 50.6 % |
| Pittsburgh | 966 | 25.9 % |
| Carolina | 357 | 9.6 % |
| Elsewhere | 522 | 14 % |
| List of polls | ||
