Underrated Forward Could Be a Perfect Depth Pickup for Leafs Before Trade Deadline
The Toronto Maple Leafs could look to add some much needed forward help at this year's trade deadline by making a deal with a long-time divisional rival.
With the trade deadline less than a week away, the Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up to make some deals. We've already seen a couple of blockbusters this weekend with Seth Jones headed to Florida and a big trade between New York and Colorado.
So Toronto has to start to make some moves in order to fill some glaring holes, and while they are attached at the hip to Brayden Schenn, he's going to cost a lot of money and assets.
If the Maple Leafs want to go the frugal route this deadline, there are several options they can choose from, however one name that hasn't gotten much attention but should is Buffalo's Ryan McLeod.
Would McLeod be a good fit for the Maple Leafs however?
Ryan McLeod Makes Perfect Sense For Maple Leafs 3C If Available
He's a top nine forward who plays both solid defense and is a sneaky good offensive player as well, and isn't afraid to do the dirty work that Craig Berube expects from his crew.
McLeod, 25, has been one of the Buffalo Sabres' bright spots this season. In 54 games this season, he has 14 goals and 17 assists while adding a plus-12 rating and winning 52.3% of his face-offs.
Drafted 40th overall by Edmonton in 2018, he spent four seasons there before being traded to the Sabres for Matthew Savoie; who was waived earlier this season and has bounced around teams before settling back with Edmonton.
McLeod is a cheap option too at only $2.1M and is set to be a restricted free agent which gives Toronto a choice whether they want to re-sign him or let teams put in an offer sheet for him and see if they can recoup an asset they traded away for him.
While not the flashiest option for GM Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs, a lot of the best teams often utilize role players to ensure their success, and McLeod can offer Toronto a solid balance of offense and defense for cheap, and can stick around as the team's go-to 3C.
Time is ticking for the Leafs, and with options being traded away, the need to make a solid move is more urgent than ever. If Buffalo makes Ryan McLeod available; Toronto should not hesitate to acquire him.
