Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Options That Don’t Make Any Sense

The Toronto Maple Leafs are said to want to upgrade their blue line.

Currently, the Toronto Maple Leafs are missing out on Morgan Rielly who is out for at least another month with a broken foot.

But when healthy, the Leafs have seven defensemen for six spots.

If you are adding another one, that means two have to go.

Therefore, most of the mentioned additions don’t make any sense because they are not enough of an upgrade to warrant the use of assets.

That is why I’ve argued they should only upgrade the blue line if it means adding an elite player.

Toronto Maple Leafs Blue Line

Morgan Rielly is an elite NHL defenseman – a top-ten player at his position who is only 25 and signed for two more years at about half price.  He is also the team’s leader and one of the best players in the history of the team.  He is absolutely untouchable.

Tyson Barrie has been second in the NHL in scoring for dmen since Sheldon Keefe was hired, while rocking excellent peripheral stats.  He’s a top line defenseman (one of three on the team).  His $2.5 million cap hit is a joke.  He won’t be re-signed, but you aren’t going to improve on the value he offers per dollar.

Travis Dermott hasn’t been great in an increased role, but he’s been one of the best 3rd pairing defensemen in the NHL over the last three years.  His value to the future makes him indispensable.

Jake Muzzin is the Toronto Maple Leafs 3rd top pairing defensemen on their roster. He will soon be re-signed and is going nowhere.

Rasmus Sandin is an elite prospect and untouchable. An upgrade means sending him back to the AHL after burning a year of his contract.  That seems idiotic.

Justin Holl has  paired well with Muzzin and they’ve  put up elite second pairing numbers.  This is your shut down pair.  No need to mess with it.

Cody Ceci was a horrible #2 but is a fantastic #6, he just makes too much money for that role. He’s the obvious path to the cap space needed to upgrade the blue line.

The obvious loser in an upgrade situation is Travis Dermott. He’s a lefty and he isn’t displacing Rielly, Muzzin or, at this point, Sandin.   So if the Leafs are going to upgrade their blueline, Travis Dermott would need to be traded.

Bad Idea Additions

For every defenseman you can consider adding, you’ve got to ask yourself how much of an upgrade they’d represent, and they have to make it worth losing Travis Dermott.

That rules out common mentions like Dylan Demelo, Josh Manson, Brandon Dillon, Jason Demers, Colin Miller, TJ Brodie, Brett Pesce, Adam Larson, Darnell Nurse, Alec Martinez, Matt Dumba, or Jeff Petry.

Not one of those guys represents a big enough upgrade to ditch Travis Dermott and his potential.

If the Leafs could acquire any of those players in exchange for Johnson or Kapanen + Ceci, they would have to pass.

What would be the point?  Sure, Manson might (maybe) be a slight upgrade but you’ve got to consider that aside from the assets you spend to get him, it’s costing you the ability to play Travis Dermott.

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to set their sights higher.  They can’t trade for a middle of the lineup player.  Not only should be consider the Dermott factor, but in the NHL unless a player is elite, he’s hardly ever worth paying more than the minimum salary for.

So instead of a trading a winger for a middling defenseman, the Leafs should build a package around Kapanen, Dermott, prospects and picks.

I’ve long suggested Ryan Ellis, but he’s just an example of someone the Leafs should be going for. Any elite defenseman that is right now what you hope Travis Dermott will one day be is worth pursing.

Anyone in the middle? Pass.