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Top 5 Toronto Maple Leafs Likely to be Traded This Off-Season

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 25: Mitch Marner #16, Kasperi Kapanen #24, and Zach Hyman #11 of the Toronto Maple Leafs sit on the bench while playing the Florida Panthers during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on March 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 25: Mitch Marner #16, Kasperi Kapanen #24, and Zach Hyman #11 of the Toronto Maple Leafs sit on the bench while playing the Florida Panthers during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on March 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 15: David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins skates between Kasperi Kapanen #24 and Andreas Johnsson #18 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 15: David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins skates between Kasperi Kapanen #24 and Andreas Johnsson #18 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs have five players most likely to be traded by the start of the 2020-21 season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs do not have a salary cap issue but by trading a few players, it would give them more flexibility during free agency and the future.

There’s no shortage of offense with this current Leafs roster.

Some of the Leafs that are third and fourth line players could easily be second-line or even first-line players on other team rosters in the NHL.

However, as everyone already knows, their defense could use some help.

Personally I think the teams defense is in a better spot than most when the 2020-21 season beings.

Mikko Lehtonen, Rasmus Sandin and potentially Timothy Liljegren are all new full-time options that could benefit the Leafs blue-line. However, all three are young and we can’t be completely convinced they’re ready for the NHL and will make a difference.

It’s quite possible that all three of those defenseman can crack the top-six and play well, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Therefore, if I was apart of the Leafs executive team, there is one Free Agent I would pursue and sacrifice trading a few players away to make room for him.

That players name is: Alex Pietrangelo.

If the Leafs were to acquire Pietrangelo, they would be a serious Stanley Cup contender and the top-three of Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin and Pietrangelo would be one of the best in the NHL. Pair those three with Sandin, Holl, Lehtonen and/or Lilejegren (Sorry Travis Dermott, we’re going to have to trade you now) and the Leafs defense looks awesome.

Let’s look at five players that are most likely to be traded in the off-season, hopefully making room for Pietrangelo.

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