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Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Rumour: Nazem Kadri for Jacob Trouba

By James Tanner |
WINNIPEG, MB - OCTOBER 4: Jacob Trouba #8 of the Winnipeg Jets hits the ice during the player introductions prior to puck drop against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the home opener at the Bell MTS Place on October 4, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - OCTOBER 4: Jacob Trouba #8 of the Winnipeg Jets hits the ice during the player introductions prior to puck drop against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the home opener at the Bell MTS Place on October 4, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs were involved in a good old fashion trade rumour over the weekend.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off for the summer, and that means,  draft, free agency, and tons and tons of trade rumours (at least hopefully).

To me, trade rumours are one of the best things about following hockey. They add drama and interest and almost always present interesting talking points.

Plus, what the hell else are you supposed to do when there’s no games for six months?

Toronto Maple Leaf and Jets

This here rumour comes to us from the Winnipeg Sun and their article that talks about acquiring Kadri.  In fact, the Sun article here does not mention a rumour at all, but it is the source of the conversation that went viral afterwards.

The Sun suggest the Jets would want Kadri and that Trouba might be a piece the Leafs would be interested in.  That’s the lightning to the dry forest bed that is bored Leafs fans.

As we all know, Kadri is coming off his second straight suspension in the playoffs against Boston, which led to the Leafs losing for the second straight time.

It’s not far fetched to think that if Nazem Kadri was less of an idiot, that the Toronto Maple Leafs would still be playing right now.

Kadri is and has been my favorite player for years.  He’s one of the best homegrown Leafs players in my life, and I would be very sad if he was traded.

However, his contract is valuable and his age means that his decline will start soon if it hasn’t already.  I don’t blame him for his suspensions and I think that’s a dumb reason to trade someone.

But if Kadri could bring back the long-targeted top pairing right-handed defenseman, I would have to be on board.

Trouba is 6’3, right handed, 50 points, has a beautiful graph, sign me up.  He is exactly what the Toronto Maple Leafs need.

A defense of Rielly/Trouba/Muzzin is probably the best in the NHL – if not, it’s so close to the best as to not make any difference.

This is the exact move the Leafs should be looking to make, however the salary cap probably makes it impossible.  Trouba makes $5.5 million and is an RFA.  He will need a raise, probably in the $7 million per year range.

However, if the Leafs could move Marleau and Zaitsev, pretty much anything is possible. Kadri makes $4.5 so just not signing Hainsey would make this work.

Next. Leafs Final Report Cards. dark

What remains to be seen is, can they?

I would say no, but Phaneuf, Kessel and Clarkson suggest otherwise.   We will see.

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