Editor In Leaf
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4 Potential Forwards Toronto Maple Leafs Could Trade For Next Week

By Stephen Nixon

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: Taylor Hall #4 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his goal at 3:08 of the second period against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on March 04, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: Taylor Hall #4 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his goal at 3:08 of the second period against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on March 04, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 15: Bobby Ryan #54 of the Detroit Red Wings (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Bobby Ryan

His numbers aren’t amazing (six goals, 13 points in 23 games), but it’s still good enough to lead the Detroit Red Wings in scoring this season.

It’s no secret that the Red Wings want to tank and acquire the No. 1 pick this year. They’re clearly in a rebuild and are at least two years away from being a playoff contender again. As a result, there’s no need to hang onto their highest scoring player.

Ryan signed a one-year deal worth $1M per season, so it’s also one of the easiest contracts to move in hockey. Even if the Wings thought Ryan could be a mentor to their youth and be apart of the rebuild, they may as well ship him out to acquire a draft-pick and revisit a new contract in the summer.

Without any insight, you’d think that Ryan would want to rejoin a contender and get a chance to play playoff hockey again.

Ryan’s on the verge of that top-six forward that the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for, but based off his contract, he could be their best and easiest option. It may have been years since Ryan’s been a 30 goal-scorer, but playing alongside such skill as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Tavares or Nylander could help turn back the clock.

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