2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Value Rankings
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a core-four worth $40M but are all of these players untradeable?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been involved in numerous trade rumors over the past few years, but there hasn’t been a huge splash, yet. With so much money tied up to their forwards, they’ve yet to break up that core and probably won’t be doing so for a while.
However, just because they don’t trade someone, doesn’t mean they are untradeable. If the right deal came across Kyle Dubas’ desk, I’m sure he would make the trade if it meant making the team better. For example, if you asked Toronto Raptors fans on July 17, 2018 who their most untradeable asset was, they’d probably say Demar Derozan.
The next day he was traded for Kawai Leonard and we all know how that turned out.
All I’m saying is that although you think a player is untouchable, he’s probably not. Even Wayne Gretzky got traded once upon a time, so anybody is possible.
So within this experiment, I’m going to break down the top 25 players based on trade value in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and put them in different categories based on their rankings. Once again, trade value doesn’t particularly mean they’re the best player.
The player’s contract has a lot to do with this, as well. Not to give the entire article away, but at $2.25M, I would say that Zach Hyman has a higher trade value than John Tavares ($11M), even though Tavares is clearly the better player.
Not as many teams would be willing to take on Tavares’ contract compared to Hyman’s, so you actually may get more return for Hyman.
See what I’m saying here?
Let’s determine which players on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster have the best trade value.
Would be Willing to Trade These Players
#25. Jimmy Vesey
#23. Mikhail Abramov
#22. Justin Holl
There were a handful of players who didn’t crack the top-25. Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton and Zach Bogosian are all veterans who just missed the cut and it’s only based on their contract and age. Why would a team risk any assets to acquire these veterans when they’re set to become a Free Agent next year?
Simmonds is an older player here, but has more value because of his age and his contract could be a steal. Formerly a $5M player, at $1.5M, the 32-year-old could get you more value in return right now.
Abramov is someone who could end up much lower on this list in the next few years but he’s still a raw prospect. He’s developing into a great goal-scorer, so he has a ton of potential but not as high as a few others in the organization.
Essentially if the Leafs traded any of these players tomorrow, no fan would cry. They would be fine with moving on from any of them and the return probably wouldn’t be more than a mid-round pick or prospect.
Not Safe in any Trade Offer
#21. Nick Abruze
#20. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
#19. Ilya Mikeheyv
#18. Mikko Lehtonen
#17. Travis Dermott
Similar to the last category, if the Toronto Maple Leafs ended up trading any of these players, it wouldn’t spark a riot on Bay Street. All six of players are a perfect piece in a bigger trade.
When the Leafs acquired Jake Muzzin, they had to get rid of Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi. Those are the type of players that fall in the “Not Safe in any Trade Offer” category, as the Leafs would happily package any of these players up if it meant acquiring a top-four defenseman.
The biggest question-mark within this category is Lehtonen, because we’ve yet to see him play. It’s possible that he turns into a top-four defenseman himself and plays his way into a bigger contract next year, but at this time, he could be an asset in a trade.
Prospects Nick Abruze and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev are two players the Leafs are high on, but if it came down to it, they could be part of a trade package to acquire a solid NHLer in return.
Would Prefer to Keep but Could Get Traded
#16. Alex Kerfoot
#15. Jack Campbell
#14. Mac Hollowell
#13. T.J. Brodie
#12. Freddie Andersen
#11. Jake Muzzin
#10. Timothy Liljegren
Things are getting serious, now. If you’re trading one of these players, you better be getting something great in return.
We’re talking about a certified top-four defenseman or top-six player in the NHL. Mac Hollowell and Timothy Liljegren are top-five Leafs prospects, while the other five are certified NHLers.
Obviously, the Leafs wouldn’t want to trade Alex Kerfoot, T.J. Brodie, Alex Kerfoot, Freddie Andersen or Jack Campbell, but they’re not off the table in any trade talk. All of these players are good players but they’re not superstars. They have more than enough trade value to get you another solid player, but Freddie Andersen isn’t getting you Carey Price and T.J. Brodie isn’t getting you Roman Josi.
Andersen’s value has the ability to acquire someone like Darcy Kuemper, instead. That’s great trade value, but not as high as the next guy’s we’ll talk about.
A Godfather Deal Would Get it Done
#9. John Tavares
#8. Rodion Amirov
#7. Zach Hyman
#5. William Nylander
“I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse” – Some GM trying to acquire any of these players.
The hypothetical trading of Nylander and Marner are endless and I’m someone who falls into this trap every time. All five of these players provide a ton of depth to the Leafs and are valuable pieces to them winning a Stanley Cup.
The $2.25M contract that Hyman has is the best contract on the team. He’s a 30-goal scorer that gets paid like a third-line grinder. Any team would line up to try to acquire him and you’d probably get a nice return for him.
Mitch Marner and William Nylander are generational talents, so although Kyle Dubas would never want to trade them, he may be willing to do so if a monster deal came calling. The trade value for both of these wingers will get you a top-two defenseman. Although both team’s probably wouldn’t make this deal, the Vegas Golden Knights would listen if the Leafs offered Mitch Marner for Alex Pietrangelo.
All of five of these players would help get the Leafs a huge return that would help the team immediately, but it would spark a ton of controversy because the fans love them. The Leafs don’t want to trade these players, but they’d be willing to part ways if a Godfather deal was waiting.
Don’t Even Ask, They’re Not Getting Traded
#4. Morgan Rielly
#3. Rasmus Sandin
#1. Auston Matthews
There is no package in the world right now that would make the Leafs part ways with these four players. I don’t care what it is, it’s not happening.
Matthews is the best pure-goal scorer in the NHL and is going to win a Hart Trophy sooner than later. He’s getting into the conversation as a top-five player in the NHL, so he’s off the table and is the face of the franchise.
When Morgan Rielly is healthy, he’s a Norris Trophy level defenseman. Also, at $5M per season, it’s a steal. The Leafs are going to do everything they can to lock him up in two years and the team would rather let him walk in Free Agency than ever attempt to trade him.
Robertson and Sandin are #1 and #2 in terms of prospect rankings for the Leafs. Not only will they be making a difference on the ice sooner than later, but they have an Entry Level Contract and are far from hitting their primes. If the Toronto Maple Leafs were to trade either of these two players, it could turn into a Dougie Hamilton and Tyler Seguin type of situation and they would regret it for decades.
dark. Next. Top 10 Best Leafs Trades of All-Time
All four of these player’s trade values are through the roof and could get you a top-20 player in the NHL. However, unless the Oilers offered Connor McDavid for Robertson or Sandin, they’re not trading them. Matthews and Rielly will be the reasons why the Leafs are successful now, while Sandin and Robertson are the up-and-coming superstars.