Shutdown Center Emerges as Potential Trade Target for Maple Leafs, per Former NHL Executive
If the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brad Treliving wanted to add a solid shutdown third line center, they could do themselves a favor and look to trade for Sean Kuraly.
Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs have one big job: Insure their third line for the rest of the season and playoffs, making sure they add a mix of offense but more importantly defense.
There are several names for the team to choose from, however it has to come down to not only the right fit, but if the financial cost is right. According to former GM Doug MacLean, the key could lie in beefy center Sean Kuraly.
Sean Kuraly Prime Trade Target For Maple Leafs According To Doug MacLean
Speaking on the Real Kyper and Bourne podcast, former Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean talked how Toronto could look to Kuraly for a lot of help shoring up their defense up front:
He's got speed, he's a great penalty killer, he's a checker... Forget all the big names, have a look at Sean Kuraly and where he would fit with this group."
We touched previously on Kuraly as a name who could fit in with Toronto and while we ranked him less than favorably, that was mid-November and a lot has changed since then.
The need for Toronto to have a big presence in the middle between Max Domi and Bobby McMann, and the 6'2, 215-pound Kuraly would fill that void. Plus, he offers some offensive help and is an elite faceoff man.
This season, Kuraly only has four goals and seven assists but has added 111 hits, 28 blocks and a 52.3% faceoff win percentage.
In his nine-year NHL career, Kuraly has 62 goals and 85 assists in 530 games but adds over 1200 hits over that span and averages 189 per season.
He would fit in Craig Berube's system perfectly and his familiarity with the Atlantic (spending five seasons in Boston) can only play into the Maple Leafs' hands.
He's also not the most expensive option at $2.5M and is a free agent at season's end, so he won't be on the books and could be a bargain pickup for the last few months.
Doug MacLean believes the Maple Leafs need to pick up Sean Kuraly, and given what they need and what he offers; it sounds like the perfect under the radar choice that could be this season's gamechanger.
