The Trade That Will Help the Maple Leafs Succeed Won't Please Fans
With the Maple Leafs struggling to make a splash thus far and not many options to part with, they may need to do away with a player that fans are excited about.
Given the March 7 trade deadline is a month away, and teams are already getting their rosters set up ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off, it seems like only a matter of time until the next blockbuster trade happens.
The Toronto Maple Leafs want to make a splash, and though there are certainly options available like Brock Nelson, and Ryan O'Reilly, they aren't the premium player who can lift them past the first round. So in order to do so, they may be forced to do give fans a hard pill to swallow.
Fraser Minten And Easton Cowan Are Prime Trade Candidates
It's rough to think that Toronto's exciting prospect system could be stripped of its two best players, the team never seems to be in a rebuilding phase for lack of a better term.
The Leafs are in win-now mode, and with other factors concerning them as well, it's a lot of pressure on Brad Treliving. However, if the team's window to win in closing, and they want to potentially keep Mitch Marner around; then it's a necessary evil.
Minten already has proven that he can hang in the NHL and while the offensive numbers haven't been there, the potential for him to be at best a solid Top 6 center and at worst a good 3C is as good a deal as any.
He's projected to be a two-way beast and if he can synergize his defense with his scoring potential, he could be dangerous for years to come.
Drafted 38th overall by Toronto in 2022, Minten has a lower ceiling than Cowan, but he's ready now which is something teams are seeking out in a deal. This season, Minten has two goals and two assists in 15 games.
Cowan is the name that fans don't want to hear mentioned in trade talks. The chance to have a player as impactful as him is something the Maple Leafs haven't had in a long time; probably since William Nylander in 2014.
He is riding a blistering 63-game point streak with the London Knights and has 17 goals and 20 assists in 27 games. He struggled at the World Juniors which may have hurt his value a tad, but there's no denying he could be elite in a few years.
That's the key word though, could. There's no guarantee that Cowan's skillset will translate well to the NHL and while he has the potential, how will it play out? There's nothing to say that Cowan can't adjust, but if he doesn't then it feels like a wasted pick especially if Toronto could have gotten something for his hype.
Which is why Cowan being traded isn't the worst option. Toronto needs to win now, and there are several NHL players who can contribute now, who are young and have term (or can be locked down long-term).
It's not the thing fans want to see, but as we've seen not only in the NHL but with the Luka Doncic trade; anything can happen.
