Insider Reveals the Piece the Maple Leafs Need to Win in the Playoffs

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Aaron Itovitch
February 6, 2023 (3:01 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are approaching one of the most important deadlines in recent history.

More specifically, Kyle Dubas needs to make things happen now, or his job is on the line.

Dubas has no contract going into next season, and another first round exit could force ownership to go in another direction.

This means he'll have to be smart, and make moves that will improve the Leafs entire roster rather than just adding a top-winger.

While Timo Meier would be a brilliant add, Mike Johnson thinks the Leafs will go in a different direction.

He knows the team needs grit, which he believes could be filled by one of Vladislav Gavrikov, or Scott Mayfield, but he believes the big fish the Leafs should go after is St. Louis Blues winger Ivan Barbashev.

Barbashev doesn't wow on the scoresheet, but the intangibles in his game are built for the playoffs. Even better, the 27-year-old holds only $2.25-million on the salary cap.

So this is a conversation that happens a lot in Toronto, we need defensemen, we need rugged, we need Gavrikov, we need Scott Mayfield, like a big physical defender and they would probably like one of those but what they need more is a top-6 winger.

Underrated guy... Barbashev. That guy on a good team with good players on an affordable contract, I think he scored 26 last year.

Pretty strong physical guy and he makes like 2.5 million dollars. He's the perfect kind of fit, price, skill, and a guy they can realistically get.

Co-panelist Mike Rupp added this:

I saw Barbashev's name... and every playoff team will be calling on this guy if St. Louis is not looking like it's gonna get in... he can play top-6, he can score goals, he's rugged, he's tough, he finishes hits, special teams, he can do a little bit of everything. That would be a perfect fit for Toronto.

This is an entirely realistic move for the Leafs, and it is entirely feasible that Barbashev has the Maple Leaf crest on his chest comme deadline day.

The question is, will it be enough?

Source Maple Leafs Daily:
Panel discusses who the best fit actually is for the Leafs at the deadline; it's not who you might think