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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Which Player Would You Trade For?

By Wilbert Timmermans

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 9: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes the ice before playing the Philadelphia Flyers at the Scotiabank Arena on November 9, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 9: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes the ice before playing the Philadelphia Flyers at the Scotiabank Arena on November 9, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Sami Vatanen
Sami Vatanen /

My Take

The Toronto Maple should trade for no other than Sami Vatanen.

Kyle Dubas addressed the need for backup goaltending with the trade for Jack Campbell with the Los Angeles Kings. While it’s a need worth addressing for the long-term, for now, it’s taken care of in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs.

With that taken care off, it’s obvious where their needs lie now. The Toronto Maple Leafs are an offensive juggernaut, but defensively, there’s still a vacancy, especially with the injuries they’re plagued with this season.

This brings us back to Vatanen, one of the hottest commodities at this trade deadline, no doubt. Being a right-handed defenceman, Vatanen could solidify the Maple Leafs pairings during their hunt for a spot in the playoffs.

While his salary might be a problem, New Jersey can be persuaded to retain some salary if the deal is sweetened enough. In case Morgan Rielly is out for the rest of the regular season, that won’t even be needed.

New Jersey will likely be looking to get draft picks and prospects in return for Vatanen, who’s a UFA after this season, meaning the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t have to give up a piece like Kapanen or Johnsson, making them available for a potential other deal.

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