The Toronto Maple Leafs have been hit with a couple of long-term injuries and they are reportedly looking at making some upgrades or additions at the forward position.
Joe Thornton and Nick Robertson have both been placed on LTIR and are expected to miss the next month with their respective injuries, leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs to delve into their taxi squad to make up the numbers.
The Leafs were also without superstar center Auston Matthews in their 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, which seems to have prompted some consideration on ways to help the team get through the sudden flurry of injuries.
One avenue that appears to be under consideration is the possible addition and upgrade at the forward position, which likely means general manager Kyle Dubas is assessing what possible trades could be worthwhile.
Toronto Maple Leafs Looking At Forward Help
According to Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines segment, the Leafs are looking around the league to see if they can make any additions or upgrades to their forward group.
He did state that the players currently on the books for the Leafs will be given an opportunity to claim a spot on the roster, but the fact that Dubas could be willing to make a trade is interesting to imagine.
Trades between teams are affected by the need for players to quarantine, especially if crossing the border, so some serious thoughts will go into whether or not a deal can be made that limits this need to wait until the player can join their new team.
For the Leafs, if Thornton and Robertson both return on schedule, expected to be around four weeks from now, then would making a trade for a player that would need to quarantine for a week, or longer, be worth making?
The key word used by Friedman yesterday is upgrade, as it seems that Dubas would likely look to add a player that can be an immediate top six player, rather than someone that fills out the back end depth – which players such as Joey Anderson and Travis Boyd are.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are very much in the mindset of competing for the Stanley Cup now, which means that draft picks could be on the table to try and help Dubas acquire a player that would have the kind of impact needed. Salary will also be another serious consideration for the Leafs, who are right up against the cap as it is and would need to move someone to facilitate bringing another impact player on board.
Players on expiring deals, such as Zach Hyman, Zach Bogosian and even Travis Dermott might be considered as potential trade pieces if it can land Dubas and Sheldon Keefe a player that they believe can be a long-term help as well as an immediate support with the current crop of injuries.
It’s interesting that the Leafs are considering making a move, determined to put themselves atop the pack in the Canadian division, but the considerations around making such a move might become a hurdle that ultimately leaves the team relying on the depth they already have at their disposal.