Toronto Maple Leafs: Go Big with Trade or Don’t Bother

When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Patrick Marleau, it signaled a shift in the organization.

Many people have long argued that due to their trio of elite young players (Matthews, Marner, Nylander) and a host of in-their-prime secondary guys (Kadri, Rielly, Gardiner, JVR, Komarov, Andersen) the Toronto Maple Leafs would never be more well positioned to go all-in for a chance at the Stanley Cup.

The Blackhawks and Penguins both used this model to their advantage by gaming the salary cap while Crosby, Toews et. al were on their entry-level deals.  The Leafs hope to not only copy them in this, but to also copy their ability to re-group afterwards and keep icing competitive teams.

So the Leafs and their fans new it could be done.  On Sunday, Lou Lamoriello and his team signaled that they know it too.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have one more year of cheap Nylander and two more of cheap Matthews and Marner and they are going to make it count.

Time to Pay Up for Toronto Maple Leafs:

Everyone seems resigned to a James van Riemsdyk trade.  But what people don’t seem to realize is that trading JVR for someone like Jason Demers is only a sideways step.

More from Editor In Leaf

• Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
• Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
• Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament

Yes, it makes your defense slightly better, but it also takes a spot away from Connor Carrick or Travis Dermott…..potentially even Timothy Liljegren if he absolutely kills it at camp.

If the Leafs want to make the Marleau deal worthwhile; if they want to make this time of team-friendly contracts pay off, they have to pay up.

JVR doesn’t get you a #1 defenseman.  When Marcus Johansson doesn’t even get a 1st, and when Taylor Hall only gets you Adam Larsson, JVR’s value – especially with only one year on his deal – is not as high as many people probably think it is.

In order to get the player they want, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to  have to package van Riensdyk with either Connor Brown or Kasperi Kapanen, and a first round draft pick.

At minimum.

If you’re going to pay JVR for a decent option you might be able to fill internally anyways, why not just keep your forward lines stacked and go for it that way?

JVR on your third line facing third line players is going to give you an advantage that Jason Demers for 20 minutes per night can’t match.  Better to just stick with JVR and Carrick.

Next: Will Nylander Bet on Himself?

I am not saying the Leafs can get Drew Doughty.  But if they are smart, and if they want to make use of their assets the best way possible, that is the kind of name-brand player they should be looking to pay to acquire.

There is no point in messing around.  If you can’t get a legit blue-line superstar, then don’t bother.  Just sign Cody Franson and play some rookies.  Letting JVR’s contract expire means you can later spend that money, so they don’t have to trade him.