Toronto Maple Leafs: Trade Deadline Targets Roundtable

Who should the Toronto Maple Leafs add at the trade deadline?

Welcome to an other edition of the Editor in Leaf Roundtable where our opinionated staff discusses the hottest issues surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Last time, we discussed what the perfect present to get the Leafs for Christmas would be.

With the trade deadline inching closer on the horizon (it’s on February 26th, just over a month away), I thought it was a perfect time to gather ’round the Roundtable. So, today’s topic for the roundtable is: what should the Toronto Maple Leafs do at the trade deadline?

Are the Leafs Cup Competitors? Should they go all in? Approach with patience?  It’s a difficult question to answer. On one hand, the Leafs will have to pay William Nylander this summer, meaning that this is the last year to take advantage of having three elite players on entry-level contract.  On the other hand, we’ve seen first hand over many years what a lack of patience can do to a team.  The Leafs may have a great team, but they also have an extremely young team.

With this in mind, I polled some Editor in Leaf staff members to get their opinions on what the Toronto Maple Leafs should do heading into the trade deadline, and they did not disappoint. So, sit back, because there are some spicy hot takes in here.

Mike Stephens

Personally, I don’t think the Leafs need to do all that much, come trade deadline time. I know it’s not the most exciting thing to say, but hear me out.

Yes, it would be lovely for the Leafs to go out and grab a top-4, minute-munching D-man. It’s just that the price for a player of that calibre would undoubtedly start with Kasperi Kapanen, Travis Dermott or Timothy Liljegren. And frankly, unless you’re getting a literal mutant in return, such a price is far greater than I’d be willing to pay.

Instead, I think the best thing for them to do is utilize the pieces they have. Dermott has shown to be a fantastic player, and if given the chance, could fill the need for a defenceman. In terms of backup goaltending, Garrett Sparks and Calvin Pickard have formed possibly the most fearsome goalie duo in AHL history for the Marlies. Either player could be plucked from the farm and instantly put up replacement-level or above production.

If the Leafs were forced to make a deal, I’d love for it to be similar to last year’s Brain Boyle trade. Adding an effective fourth line centre could be something that pushes this team over the top.  Dominic Moore clearly isn’t cutting it, and while Frederik Gauthier has been decent in his latest NHL stint, I wouldn’t feel comfortable playing him shut down minutes in a playoff series. The only downside here is that centres come at a premium in this league, so getting an effective one on the cheap is incredibly unlikely to happen.

At the end of the day, stand pat. The pieces to contend are there, they just need to be used properly.

Wilbert Timmermans

Looking at our current roster, we are solid up front. It is arguable that the Leafs are one of, if not the deepest overall time on forward. In fact, we have more suitable NHL players than slots available. Connor Brown, Mitch Marner and William Nylander have all taken turns on the four line, and if anything illustrates the depth of the Leafs forwards, that is it.

Goaltending is solid with Freddy and Curtis as back-up. Not to mention that in the minors, Sparks and Pickard are absolutely killing it.  So, inevitably, I feel forced to look at our blue-line.

I never made it a secret I want the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire a top four right-shot defenseman. The team isn’t either, having tried to acquire Travis Hamonic from the Islanders for James van Riemdyke. (A trade that was luckily rejected; Hamonic went to Calgardy).

So, if there is a rental available for the right price, I feel Lou should make the trade. I have read rumours the Sens aren’t unwillingly against trading Cody Ceci, as well as the Canucks are not against trading Erik Gudbranson. These are two players who would strengthen our blue line and would finally keep Polak out of the line-up.

However, they are not worth giving up key prospects in our pool. So perhaps they would take a trade consisting out of Andrew Nielsen and some late round draft picks. I could live with that.

James Tanner

The player that the Toronto Maple Leafs should be targeting for the trade deadline is Chris Tanev. They need a right-shot defenseman who can limit shots, and there is no one available (assuming he would be) that is close to as good as Chris Tanev.

The Vancouver Canucks are out of the playoffs and Tanev has a reasonable two years left on a deal that pays him under $5 million, making him an incredible value. Tanev also happens to be right-handed and one of the best shot-suppressing defenseman in the NHL – he is elite defensively. He would be, by far, the Leafs best right-handed defenseman. Furthermore, he would allow Ron Hainsey to be used more effectively further down the lineup.

Tanev doesn’t score, so he is really underrated by fans, but the cost to acquire him would still be expensive. One of Timothy Liljegren, Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Brown or Travis Dermott would likely be the starting point of negotiations. I’d like to keep all four of those players. But, you have to pay for something good, and eventually, the Leafs are going to have to trade someone.

Yeah, the injury history of Tanev is not good. But NHL players can be hurt anytime. So, I say roll the dice and pay the price for the player who fits the Leafs exact needs. He’s a right shot, top pairing, defensively sound, shot-suppressing defenseman.

Furthermore, the best thing about trading for Tanev is that he is only 28 and has two years left after this one on his contract.  This means that he is not a rental player, but instead could be a core addition to the Leafs blue-line.  With the ascension of Morgan Rielly, and the addition of Chris Tanev to go with some combination of Gardiner, Hainsey, Zaitsev, Borgman, Carrick and Dermott, the Leafs defense would actually be a really solid group.

Other than a fourth line centre – or a Bozak upgrade – I really don’t think the Leafs need anything other than a top pairing defenseman.  With Tanev the Toronto Maple Leafs would be making a significant upgrade in their chances to win this year and going forward.  If all it costs was Connor Brown and a first round pick, the Leafs should jump at the chance.  If the cost is more prohibitive than that, I would look at other options.

Next: What is Mike Babcock Doing?

Thanks for reading!