With less than a month to go until the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline, multiple names are being thrown out there around the Toronto Maple Leafs. Either to trade away or acquire in a package deal.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs losing Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin to injury, it puts a big whole on defense.
Although Jake Muzzin looks to be good to return after the All-Star break, that isn’t giving the Toronto Maple Leafs reasons to not look to acquire someone before, or at the Trade Deadline.
Kyle Dubas and staff are actively looking to acquire some pieces that will help the team get back into a playoff spot and ultimately make a run in the playoffs.
(All stats from thescore.com)
Defensemen Toronto Want
As per Bob McKenzie on TSN 1050 he believes the Toronto Maple Leafs are actively looking for a LD or a RD who can play on the right side, as well with some term remaining on their contract. As well as some teams are looking at Kapanen, Johnsson, and Kerfoot.
Bob McKenzie on TSN1050: I believe the Leafs are actively looking for a RD/LD who can play right with multiple years of term left. At least one+ year, but would prefer 2+ years remaining. No guarantee it gets done but they're looking. Kapanen, Johnsson, Kerfoot are who teams want
— #1 A'Ja Wilson Fan (@Account4hockey) January 24, 2020
In my opinion some defensemen the Toronto Maple Leafs could potentially look at to target in a trade are as listed below.
Matt Dumba – 25 years old, D (6M signed through 2022/23 season)
50GP 3G 13A 16 PTS TOI 22:40
As of late there has been rumours flying around that Matt Dumba’s time in Minnesota might be coming to an end. The Minnesota Wild are also looking for a top 6 winger and Toronto has three wingers for sale if the trade is worth pulling the trigger on.
Dumba fits the “player with term” and “plays on the right side” he can be physical and throw his body around, and even put up monster numbers although this season has been a bit slow for him after being injured last season and playing less than half a season.
Josh Manson – 28 years old, D (4.1M signed through 2021/22 season)
29GP 1G 4A 5 PTS TOI 20:12
Josh Manson is a 6’3 beast as well shoots right. The Ducks and Maple Leafs have history with making trades so if a Manson deal gets done I won’t be the littlest surprised. Anaheim does have a good blue line of players even though they are not one of the better teams in the league, so if the Toronto Maple Leafs could potentially get a deal done it would help out their blue line much more.
Same with Dumba, Manson fits the player with term as well as plays on the right side.
With a trade like Dumba or Manson I feel like the other team would be willing to acquire Ceci as part of the package deal. Most likely to flip him for a couple of draft picks or ride his contract out until the end of the season if they are not in the playoff hunt.
Brett Pesce – 25 years old, D (4.02M signed through 2023/24 season)
50GP 4G 12A 16 PTS TOI 21:56
Brett Pesce who has been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs since the start of last season for a potential trade because he is a player that the analytics community loves and Kyle Dubas is the Leafs GM.
A lot of people are probably thinking why would Carolina trade Pesce when Dougie Hamilton just went down with an injury? Carolina has been in need of top 6 wingers for some time now and they have a great D core that they are more than happy to give up for some scoring wingers.
Also Carolina has seen interest in Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin, so if Carolina trades for Brodin and they are willing to give up a Pesce or even a Trevor van Riemsdyk for some top 6 wingers I feel the Toronto Maple Leafs are listening on that for a potential trade.
We should see how it goes between now and the NHL Trade Deadline which is on February 24th.