Toronto Maple Leafs: Rumored Asking Price for Defenseman

Mar 22, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center William Nylander (29) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Leafs won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center William Nylander (29) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Leafs won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs know what it’ll take to pry a defenseman from the Vegas Golden Knights.

And now we kind of have an idea of what it would take for any team, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Well, we always had an idea because it’s quite obvious.

It’s not pretty, though.

To get one of the many coveted defenders the Golden Knights are bound to be stocked with, it’ll take a lot.

How much you ask?

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Well, I’m glad you asked because I have the answer.

Kind of.

Chris Johnston on the Fan 590 spoke of the cost associated and the competition from around the league.

The Leafs aren’t the only ones [in the market for a defenceman]. Teams like Edmonton and Tampa bay are in the market for the same type of player. The one thing about that market is Vegas is asking for the stars and the moon in order to get those type of guys because they control, basically, the entire trade market around the league right now.

There you go, the stars and the moon.

Well, the Leafs have stars, but none they’re willing to part with and as for the moon, we have a crater on the blueline?

But isn’t that what this whole thing is about?

Sorry if that joke isn’t sufficient, however, I’m laughing.

Darren Dreger

More information plucked from NHL Trade Rumors who plucked their stuff from Maple Leafs Hot Stove who scribed down content from others around the league.

Get the picture?

I guess I’m the lazy one.

Here’s what Dreger had to say.

Where do the Maple Leafs fit in here? Is it Vatanen that they covet? Is it Brodin from the Minnesota Wild? Whether that happens this week or not, we can’t be certain. But I can be certain Toronto has a pretty significant interest.

I don’t think it’s Sami Vatanen, maybe Jonas Brodin?

I mean, I haven’t really heard much on Brodin, though.

I do think that the whole Matt Dumba thing is blown over, unfortunately.

Opportunity Awaits

Continuing on with Dreger.

I think it is the best opportunity [to acquire a defenceman]. I can’t recall the last time there were names like the names that are being thrown out there as being potentially available. You think of Tyson Barrie with the Avalanche. Vatanen, who we’ve ealked about. Travis Hamonic with the Islanders. Is he going to be available? We beleive that he is. These are good young players that fit into that age dynamic that the Maple Leafs are trying to build around.

It’s true you know.

Both Tyson Barrie and Travis Hamonic would be excellent acquisitions, depending on what goes the other way.

That’s always the dependency.

Again, it seems like the light is out on Vatanen, which doesn’t really concern a lot of you who never really wanted him in the first place.

I guess I was wrong on that front, but I was just following the traffic.

You might get your way with that, though.

No Guts, No Glory

His ending thoughts.

The surprise to me, I think, and perhaps Leafs Nation in general, is what the Leafs are going to have to pay to acquire one of these players. I don’t think that there is a willigness in Toronto to attack their young core with a Nylander or piece like that. So what’s it going to take? Does Toronto have the assets or the stomach to move out a good key draft pick or prospect to go along with that? That is going to be most interesting. What is Toronto going to pay to acquire one of those pieces?

Next: Like the Leafs? Like to Write?

And we’ll end here with that last thought because I think Toronto has the pieces, but do they move on them?

From my understanding, we’ll find out very soon, so keep your ears pressed, folks.

What a time it is to be alive as a Leafs fan.