Toronto Maple Leafs: Adding the Two Missing Pieces
By James Tanner
The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the best teams in the NHL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs finished 6th overall (tied with the Cup winners) in the NHL last year and then they added John Tavares.
Sure, they lost a few good players, but expanded roles to the likes of Kapanen and Johnsson, plus the continued improvement of their young stars should more than make up for that.
The Leafs have a great roster, but to my way of thinking they are missing two main pieces: a top pairing right-shooting defenseman and a truly elite defensive forward.
I know a team that has both these things and who could possible be persuaded to sell them.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild finished only four points behind the Leafs last year. They were dusted by the Jets in the first round, and once they re-sign Jason Zucker and Matt Dumba, they probably won’t have very much cap space to improve their team.
The Wild have a new GM – Paul Fenton – and he has yet to do anything of consequence. They drafted once in the first two rounds (24th) and then were non-participants in the free agent frenzy of July first.
Their roster is pretty decent, but how are they supposed to improve? Their prospect depth is nothing special since they’ve picked late or not at all in the first round over the last several years.
Since they’re not likely to compete this year, are stuck with terrible long term contracts to Suter and Parise, and have almost no top prospects, they seem like a team that might make a bad trade to save some money.
And they have the two main pieces the Leafs are missing: Elite Right Hand shooting defenseman Jared Spurgeon who would instantly become the Leafs best defenseman, and elite defensive forward Nino Niederreitter.
Combined both players make $10.3 million.
In order to get both players, the Leafs would have to send the Wild a pretty good package. The kind of package that Leafs fans don’t like to consider.
Something like Kasperi Kapanen, Timothy Liljegren, Ron Hainsey (so that the Leafs would still have money left to sign Nylander) and multiple first round picks.
Even then, the Wild still probably say no. But I think the Leafs have to consider such a package. Maybe add in another prospect like Grundstrom, or Sparks or Timashov. Basically the Leafs should be willing to pay whatever it takes to get Nino and Spurgeon if they can keep Nylander.
The Leafs two weaknesses are RD and defensive forward. Spurgeon is 28 and signed for two years. While Nino is 25 and signed for four.
Three first rounders, Liljegren, Kapanen, Sparks, Timashov and Hainsey.
Can the Wild say no to that? Could the Toronto Maple Leafs?
I realize it’s massive package, but is there such a thing as an overpayment when you’re talking about two of the best players in the NHL joining what is already arguably the NHL’s best team?
If you put Spurgeon and Nino on the Leafs right now, they’d be the best team in the NHL by a mile. They’d also be able to keep the team together for several years.
Thoughts?
Info from capfriendly.com