The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a major trade on Monday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs sent Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen and a third round pick to the Colorado Avalanche for Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot and a sixth round pick.
While Tyson Barrie may be the piece Toronto Maple Leafs fans are most excited about, the secondary trade asset acquired here is a significant piece to look at. Alexander Kerfoot, who seems to have been a bonus in this trade, may actually be exactly what the Leafs need.
If we break down the trade, it becomes Kadri for Barrie, Kerfoot for the third round pick and Rosen for the sixth round pick. But what if, even though the Leafs traded Kadri’s value for Barrie’s value, they got similar value back in Kerfoot, or at least enough for them to replace him.
A Second Liner on the Third Line
First, let’s take a look at Nazem Kadri. Now Kadri was a great player for the Leafs. He’s a back to back 32 goal scorer, and at $4.5 million AAV, he is one of the most affordable second line centres in the league. But that’s the problem, he’s actually a second line player, who is forced to play third line minutes on a team with Auston Matthews and John Tavares. Now this isn’t a bad thing, it’s definitely a good thing for Toronto, but the decrease in minutes definitely hurts his point totals and efficiency.
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We could see here why Kadri was expendable. Amidst all the trade rumours this year, everyone wondered how the Leafs would replace his skill and production, especially at his value.
Well enter Alexander Kerfoot, an actual third-line centre. Kerfoot just signed a 3.5 million AAV contract with the Leafs. For even less, the Leafs are getting exactly what they need and nothing more–a third line centre. Kadri was great, but in a third line centre role similar to Kerfoot’s, their numbers were very similar.
Point Production
Kadri has only reached 60 points once in his career. I know, his impact is far bigger than just that, but that was while he was a second line centre. Last season, while in a third line centre role, he only reached 44 points (16G, 28A). Now this is still an excellent point total for a third line centre, but we can’t forget that Kerfoot also finished the season with 42 points (and 43 points the previous season). They both produced nearly identical numbers in similar playing roles.
As far as offence goes, Kadri wasn’t going to move back up to his 30 goal pace playing on the third line. If Kerfoot is matching him offensively, that aspect of offence is covered.
Age Isn’t Just a Number
The Leafs are aiming to get younger and have more control over their contracts. This is why Kerfoot is perfect yet again. At 24 (turning 25), he is significantly younger than Kadri, who is turning 29 this October.
Not only did the Leafs get a cheaper centre with similar point production, they got a young centre who still has potential to grow. Locking him up for four years also keeps him in Toronto until he’s 29.
His best years are coming up, while Kadri’s might be over by that time. The Leafs got younger without even trying and that sets them up with a longer window.
But What’s the Cost?
Now obviously, the Leafs will be losing some strengths in Kadri that they won’t be finding in Kerfoot.
One main aspect of Kadri’s game that will be missed is his physical play. Now I know that’s what’s gotten Kadri in trouble a few times, but nevertheless, it’s an aspect of his game that was valued. Let’s not forget the game where he shut down Connor McDavid, the best in the game, all game long, partly due to his strong willingness to throw his weight around.
So all in all, yes, Kadri may be the overall better player, but when placed in the same role (which is what the Leafs would have to do either way), Kerfoot is the perfect replacement for Kadri. Dubas strikes again with a strong trade to load the Leafs up.