Perfect trade Deadline Addition Emerges for the Leafs: Yakov Trenin

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Graham Montgomery
January 22, 2024 (2:49 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have been underperforming this season. One area where the team could improve is on the penalty kill.

The team could explore trade options to improve this part of their game as one forward seems like a reasonable target. The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled mightily down a man this season. After giving up multiple power play goals again last night to the Vancouver Canucks, the team's PK percentage fell to 76%, putting them 27th in the league.

Not so special teams

Leafs currently sit bottom five-5 this year in penalty kill after finishing last year in the top half of the league

#LeafsForever

It seems as though the team could use help in this area of the game. While some of the responsibility certainly falls on the coaching staff, personnel is also a factor in these things. As such, the team might want to consider trading for players who are known to be good on the PK.

Predators forward trenin could improve Maple Leafs penalty kill

One player that could help the team would be Predators forward Yakov Trenin. Yakov Trenin is a proven penalty killer who would also add some more depth to a Leafs forward core that has lacked it for years.

NSH F Yakov Trenin is a player that's emerged as one of my Trade Deadline targets. Good speed for his size, strong in transition and solid defensively. Would likely improve the penalty-kill and add some grit to the bottom-6. Not sure if Nashville sells, but if so... #LeafsForever

Trenin has 7 goals and 9 points in 43 games this season with Nashville. He also has over 100 hits with just 21 penalty minutes, proving that he can be an effective physical player without crossing the line too often. Physicality and grit is another area where the Leafs have struggled this season. So is Trenin the perfect fit for Toronto?