Perfect Trade Target for Toronto Maple Leafs Hits the Market Courtesy of Conference Rival
If Brad Treliving wants to shore up their third-line center situation, they can call up former GM Kyle Dubas to try and swing a deal for veteran Lars Eller.
The biggest need in question that surrounds the Maple Leafs is their demand for a true 3C who can spark not only the offense but play the type of gritty, third-line play that head coach Craig Berube strives for.
So who could the Maple Leafs trade for? According to sources, they could look to their former polarizing GM for help. Kyle Dubas' Penguins have been bad and after another brutal loss to the Dallas Stars, in which they allowed SIX first-period goals: Pittsburgh is not who they once were, that's for sure.
According to Taylor Haase, a reporter for DK Pittsburgh Sports; Kyle Dubas had made teams aware that pretty much everyone is available for the taking:
It looks like Dubas isn't looking to the future for his solution and would like to garner an NHLer or two with experience in order to give Pittsburgh a fresh look. GM Brad Treliving could focus his attention on Lars Eller to fill Toronto's needs.
What Does Lars Eller Offer To The Maple Leafs?
The former 1st-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2007, Eller has had a very respectable NHL career that has lasted 16 years and over 1000 games. With a career 50.3% faceoff percentage, he would be a crucial piece to add to the Maple Leafs. He's not flashy but does everything right.
He can also score too, having only missed out on double-digit goals four times in his career. With 409 career points, it's obvious he can be a contributor, and played with Alex Ovechkin, and Nicklas Backstrom in Washington where he won a Stanley Cup in 2018.
Skating alongside Max Pacioretty, and Tomas Plekanec in Montreal certainly helped too, and he's always been a solid role-player wherever he played.
How Would A Trade Work?
Eller would fit in perfectly on Toronto's third line, and with a $2.45M cap hit, he's not the most expensive center on the market and a bit of roster shuffling could make the trade work.
Toronto could send David Kampf and his $2.4M contract along with perhaps Kyle Clifford in order to add some more depth and grit to a Penguins lineup that is sorely lacking any type of aggression or intensity. Brad Treliving can and should make it work.
While the Maple Leafs need a 3C, and Pittsburgh needs a change, both sides can come together and strike a deal, and maybe this time it's Treliving who decides he wants to come in and steal away a part of Dubas' team.
| POLL | ||
Should Brad Treliving make a trade for Lars Eller? | ||
| Yes, he would be great for the Leafs! | 178 | 51.7 % |
| No, we already have a good enough team. | 166 | 48.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
