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Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Players To Add for Cup Run

By James Tanner

WINNIPEG, MB April 20: Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) stops Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter (22) during the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Game 5 between the Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild on April 20, 2018 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB April 20: Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) stops Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter (22) during the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Game 5 between the Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild on April 20, 2018 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 2: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Canadian Tire Centre on April 2, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 2: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Canadian Tire Centre on April 2, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson has been on the trade block all summer, and there were a couple times when it seemed like the trade was going to happen, only to cool off and leave a bunch of NHL fans desperate for action completely disappointed.

If Karlsson is being traded, the Leafs should have interest.

His cap-hit of $6.5 would easily fit on the Leafs, and they probably have the assets to get it done, if they want to.

Ottawa would be stupid to eliminate the possibility of trading Karlsson to Toronto just because it’s their main rival.  They aren’t winning the Cup this year and so they should take the best deal, regardless of who it’s from.

Karlsson would instantly become the best defenseman in franchise history and would make the Leafs clear-cut Cup Favorites.  It would take a high price for a rental and re-signing him would be problematic (although, once you have him, you’d probably try).

For one year of glory, why not go for it?  Karlsson is one of the best players in the NHL, a guaranteed hall-of-famer, and the NHL’s current best defenseman by about six miles.  No one can touch him and he just happens to play the position (RD) that the Toronto Maple Leafs are weakest at.

Why not throw the Senators a whole bunch of picks and prospects and see what happens?

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