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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Early Season Trade Targets

By Mike Stephens

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 17: Brett Pesce #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck during an NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 17, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 17: Brett Pesce #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck during an NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 17, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 25: Philadelphia Flyers right wing Wayne Simmonds (17) before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers on October 25, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Flyers 3-0. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 25: Philadelphia Flyers right wing Wayne Simmonds (17) before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers on October 25, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Flyers 3-0. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

James Tanner

The Leafs could certainly use an upgrade on the right side of their defence, but I maintain that by converting one of Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner or Travis Dermott to the right side and recalling Andreas Borgman can make significant changes without giving up any major assets or cap hit commitments.

Where I would focus to improve the team is on the wing.

The Leafs have 3 x #1 centers and no other NHL team can say that. In order to play to the team’s strengths, I would look to add wingers who can improve their performances. Let’s say we are happy with Nylander, Kapanen, Hyman and Marner. That leaves two wingers to upgrade, and though I’ve offered up Nino Niederreiter and Artemi Panarin in the past, today I will focus on two much more realistic acquisitions.

The first is Kevin Hayes of the Rangers.

The Rangers are rebuilding. They also are rich and have a top of cap space, so if you were looking to bail on Zaitsev or Marleau, they’re the team to talk to. Regardless, Kevin Hayes is 26, coming off a 25 goal season and has an expiring contract. The Leafs would improve significantly if Nazem Kadri played with Hayes instead of Brown. A massive upgrade that improves two players team depth as a whole and wouldn’t cost too much. Plus the player is probably available.

Another target similar to Hayes is Wayne Simmonds. He’s 30 and the advanced stats do not say he’s very good, but he can finish. He’s been in and around 30 goals for five straight years and if the Flyers fall out of the race he can probably be had for next to another as he is a pending UFA.

He’d give the Leafs some grit that they’re lacking, and while he takes too many penalties and is pretty much useless when he isn’t scoring goals, he’d look pretty good on the third line with Kadri.

I vastly prefer Hayes, but this is also a decent option.

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Thanks for reading!

All stats courtesy of hockeyreference.com

All salary information courtesy of capfriendly.com

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