Editor In Leaf
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 10
Next
Matt Dumba
Matt Dumba /

Alex Hobson

At this point, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to do whatever it takes to make the playoffs. And I believe Kyle Dubas recognizes this & will make the necessary moves to get there.

With this being known, I think the Leafs need to pull the trigger on a trade for Matt Dumba.

Dumba checks off all the boxes in terms of what the Leafs are looking for. He’s a right-handed two-way defenseman who fits in with the demographics of this team (25 years old) and he has term on his contract, as it doesn’t expire until following the 2022-23 season.

If the return on Minnesota’s asking price begins with one of Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson, you absolutely pull the trigger. The Leafs have the assets necessary to make a trade like this happen.

The reason an acquisition like Dumba could be so beneficial is because he’s a piece the Leafs could use beyond this season. With Tyson Barrie likely to leave in free agency (unless he takes a massive discount), Dumba makes perfect sense as a long term defensive partner for Morgan Rielly. And you know it would be huge for Rielly seeing the number of boat anchors he’s been paired with to start his career (Matt Hunwick, Roman Polak, Cody Ceci etc).

At this point, the Leafs aren’t in a spot like last season where they can sit comfortably. Every game for the rest of the season could be called a “must-win” game, and the Leafs need to pull the trigger on a deal like this if they want to feel comfortable down the road towards the playoffs

Home/Editorials