Top-5 Defensive Trade Targets For The Maple Leafs Revealed By Insider Chris Johnston
NHL Hockey Insider Chris Johnston has named his top five trade candidates for the Maple Leafs' blueline with one being a very familiar face.
With the Maple Leafs not only needing to add a 2C or 3C to help their forward depth, they also need to add some insurance on the blueline, especially for Morgan Rielly who has been struggling this season and could use a partner to help him out.
So with that comes a slew of names who could come in to assist, but for NHL Hockey Insider Chris Johnston: He's narrowed down the best five possible names for the Maple Leafs to acquire including a very familiar one.
Luke Schenn, Connor Murphy On Chris Johnston's List Of Maple Leafs D-Man Trade Targets
Johnston's article along with Jonas Siegel, ranked the five best trade targets for the Maple Leafs on defense with the following list:
5. Connor Murphy (CHI)
4. David Savard (MTL)
3. Jamie Oleksiak (SEA)
2. Brandon Carlo (BOS)
1. Luke Schenn (NSH)
Murphy would be a solid option for the Maple Leafs, as it gives them a player with the presence the team needs on the backend, can chip in on offense, and has another year after this season on his deal.
There are some caveats though, as Johnston points out:
Murphy also turns 32 next month and has another year left on his contract, which comes with a cap hit of $4.4 million."
Toronto would need Chicago to do them a favor like they did with Jake McCabe and ask for some salary retention. It might cost them a potential player like Nikita Grebenkin or Fraser Minten; however if it helps Toronto get over the edge then it's a solid deal.
This season Murphy has one goal, 12 assists, 38 PIM and is a minus-7 in 39 games with the Blackhawks.
Savard is a tough ask to bring aboard. Not only is he an aging player at 34, but he's already a third-line defender on Montreal, and would be the same in Toronto. Sure he has the playoff experience necessary, but if he's a few steps behind then it won't necessarily matter.
He's a free agent at the end of the season, and is only a $3.5M cap hit, so won't cost too much, but if Montreal is trading with their rivals there's no way they won't squeeze them for everything.
Siegel points out the cost may be too much even if he adds another big presence to the Leafs blueline:
This season, Savard has one goal and nine assists in 47 games for the Canadiens, but also adds 117 blocks in those games. For his career, he has 237 points in 842 games and won a Stanley Cup in 2021 with the Lightning.
Oleksiak is a towering beast in his own right, and would add another big defensive piece to an already beefy blueline. Drafted by Seattle in the Expansion Draft, the 6'7, 260 pound defenseman would be a perfect candidate to help Morgan Rielly.
He blocks a ton of shots, throws lots of hits, and be a great stop-gap for the times Rielly gets caught and needs to backtrack. The issue is, Oleksiak is beloved in Seattle, and there's no reason to trade him unless they know the package they can get back is worth it.
Johnston believes that the Kraken may end up having to deal the defenseman though after signing Brandon Montour, but also his age and the pressure to win now:
The organization committed big term and dollars to free agent Brandon Montour last summer and only has so many options at its disposal to start turning over the bottom half of the roster.
Oleksiak represents a valuable trade chip in the NHL's current trade environment."
This season, Oleksiak has four goals, nine assists, 114 blocks and 42 hits in 55 games with the Kraken; he is in the fourth year of his five-year, $23M extension signed in 2021.
Carlo is an interesting name, as the defenseman hasn't come up a lot in recent weeks as a particular trade target, but there's no denying he could help. Also a big body at 6'5, 200+ pounds, he's a right handed shot who could play Top-4 minutes, the penalty kill, and as per usual: block shots and throw hits.
But he plays for Boston, one of Toronto's most heated rivals. Does Brad Treliving have enough assets to entice Bruins GM Cam Neely into accepting an offer for his defenseman? It would be great if they could add Charlie Coyle into the mix, but at that point you're asking for a Christmas miracle in March.
As Siegel points out:
Carlo will be 29 in November though and Boston, with a team that's admittedly considering a reboot, might ultimately decide to try to recoup some assets for the future."
Boston is potentially thinking of doing a quick rebuild at the deadline, and while Carlo isn't young, he's not old either and still has two years left on his deal; the Bruins could rely on him heavily as they retool their lineup.
This season, Carlo has one goal, eight assists, 104 blocks and 55 hits in 54 games with the Bruins.
Finally we come to #1 on the list: Luke Schenn. It would make it a hat-trick of appearances for the former Maple Leafs 5th overall pick.
Drafted in 2008, he was then re-acquired in 2022 for the exact same reason he should be brought back for a third go-round.
Already a big help to Rielly in 2022, Schenn would be one of the cheaper, and definitely easier fits in the lineup. He's huge, blocks a ton of shots, isn't shy about hitting people, can shut down opponents with his perception or his length, and can clearly deal with any Toronto media pressure.
This season, Schenn has one goal and three assists but adds 66 blocks and 187(!) hits so far in 52 games with the Predators. It would be great to add Schenn and his $2.75M cap hit, as he comes dirt cheap but at that rate it's going to cost Toronto.
As Johnston points out:
A strong offer is subjective to each GM however there's no doubt Nashville wants to get at least one young prospect (mid-tier) and one of, if not several of the Leafs draft picks (especially with salary retention).
There are still several names beyond the five Johnston listed, however they represent a solid group of players who could no doubt help Morgan Rielly and the Maple Leafs.
The only question is who will be the lucky player chosen, and what exactly is the true cost of acquiring them?
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