Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade Kadri, JVR & Gardiner

Feb 25, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Josh Leivo (32) reacts after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Josh Leivo (32) reacts after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
4 of 5

Line-Up:

If the Leafs elected to go with an extended rebuild, the chance at winning a Stanley Cup might be pushed back a couple years, but the odds of it actually happening eventually would, I think, increase significantly.  (Note: I am going to assume if they do this they’ll be more apt to bring back veteran leaders Bolyle and Hunwick).

Here is what their lineup might look like with their tradable assets removed:

Hyman –  Matthews  – Kapanen

Brown  – Nylander   –   Leivo

Leipsic –  Marner –  Rychel

Martin – Boyle – Soshnikov    (Bracco, Timashov, Johnson, Lindberg, Grunberg, Gauthier)

As you can see, that isn’t half bad anyway.  Those who can’t thrive in the NHL, can be sent down and replaced, and the Leafs – even with moving Komarov, JVR, Kadri and Bozak – can still ice a pretty excellent group of forwards.

on defense:

Rielly – Zaitsev

  Rosen  –  Carrick

Dermott – Hunwick

It’s naive to say that a team losing Kadri, Gardiner et. al. isn’t going to be effected, but this really isn’t a bad team.  If you factor in what the return on those players will be, the Leafs could probably still make the Playoffs next year after doing it.