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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Trade Deadline Wishlist

By Mike Stephens

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 12: Radko Gudas #3 of the Philadelphia Flyers plays the puck against the New Jersey Devils during the game at Prudential Center on January 12, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 12: Radko Gudas #3 of the Philadelphia Flyers plays the puck against the New Jersey Devils during the game at Prudential Center on January 12, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 15: Jake Muzzin #6 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on December 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 15: Jake Muzzin #6 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on December 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs are headed on their bye-week, which leaves no better time than the present to start talking trades.

The trade deadline is mere weeks away, and the Toronto Maple Leafs could sure use a few complimentary pieces if they intend on avoiding yet another first-round playoff exit. Frankly, that seems to be the case for all 30 other NHL teams and, of course, is far easier said than done.

Who should they target? What would they give up?

Thankfully, that’s exactly what this very roundtable strives to find out. This week, the EIL staff put their heads together to answer the question:

Who is on your Leafs’ trade deadline wish list and what would you give up to get them? 

The answers, as always, may shock you.

Josh Lawrence

Well, I guess it’s that time of year again!

I would like to acquire Jake Muzzin. I read a tweet this morning that said Muzzin would cost teams a first rounder and a prospect. The problem is that Muzzin is a left-handed D and we currently have 4 left-handed D. I don’t think this is a problem, to be honest.

With Hainsey as our #1 RD, things can easily be shuffled around, Rielly, Gardiner, or Muzzin are all capable of holding down that 1 RD spot. This would likely mean we’d have to scratch one of Hainsey, Zaitsev or Ozighanov, which honestly wouldn’t be that bad if they alternated between the 3 for that #3 RD spot. Jake has some good underlying numbers, he has a 51 per cent Fenwick which is even higher than his 50.5 Corsi rating. Not that these numbers are that high but usually the Fenwick rating is much lower than the Corsi rating, this means not a lot of shots are getting through when he is on the ice. His Fenwick is almost 5% higher compared to his teammates, this is a huge difference. His numbers actually happen to be suppressed playing on such a terrible team this season.

What would I pay for Muzzin? Well, the asking price is said to be a 1st rounder and a prospect, so I’ll have to say a 1st rounder and one of Carl Grundstrom or Jeremy Bracco would have to do. I think that a move like this could have a great effect on our team, I don’t expect it to happen but I’d welcome it with open arms if it did.

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