The Perfect Depth Option for the Toronto Maple Leafs May Be With the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Toronto Maple Leafs could look to former GM Kyle Dubas' team for some extra insurance up front and trade for one of their more underrated forwards.
With the trade deadline approaching, and every name under the sun seemingly linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a new name has emerged as a potential candidate to help out their third line offense.
The name in question is Anthony Beauvillier, a former first round draft pick who has struggled in recent years and could use a team like Toronto to get him back on track.
The only issue is: They need to deal with their old GM Kyle Dubas to get it done.
Anthony Beauvillier Could Give Toronto Cheap, Gritty Forward Depth
There's not much flashy about his game, and Beauvillier has been the subject of a few trades in recent years as well.
Sent to Vancouver as part of the Bo Horvat trade, then traded to Chicago where he stayed a bit before being shipped off later that season to Nashville before signing with Pittsburgh this summer.
But before he got traded he was a very reliable contributor. From 2017-2022 he had 102 goals and 103 assists in 424 games with the New York Islanders, and is actually a reliable center who can fill in at a moment's notice.
He plays hard, can throw hits, is still only 27 years old and would be a dirt-cheap option for Toronto at only $1.25M and he's a free agent at season's end.
This season, Beauvillier has 12 goals and six assists which would rank him seventh on the team ahead of Nick Robertson.
A couple of issues with acquiring Beauvillier isn't actually the price (which is a rarity for the Maple Leafs) but whether or not Kyle Dubas wants to do business with his old team, and if he wants to let Beauvillier go due to injury struggles the Penguins have faced.
Toronto would do themselves a favor and check in at least to see if Dubas is willing to do business. It won't be the flashiest trade or the biggest splash, but sometimes the smallest deals can make the biggest impact.
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) skates against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531875.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) skates against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
