Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Is Available, Who Is Untouchable
Staying in the System
Dubas has been with the Leafs since 2014. Since then, he has had a notable role in drafting and developing players in the organization. With that, the team has many players outside their NHL roster that can be bait.
On the flip side, Dubas will not compromise the long-term success of the team. That means some players will be kept around as developmental pieces. Not everyone is safe, but there won’t be a big scoop of the prospect pool.
- LD. Rasmus Sandin
- LW/C/RW. Alex Galchenyuk
Someone Dubas will want to keep around is Toronto’s 2018 first-round pick, Rasmus Sandin. He played well in his 28-game stint in the NHL last season and now resides on IR with an injury. Considering his dominance in the AHL and success in the NHL, Dubas must hold onto him.
While he is well past his years of being called a prospect, Alex Galchenyuk is an intriguing player in the Maple Leafs’ system. Dubas traded two players not expected to contribute in the big leagues for the once-promising player.
He was once a 30-goal scorer but struggled the past couple of seasons. The Leafs is his fourth organization since 2019. Since then, he has 25 points in 67 NHL games. Dubas is hoping to bring Galchenyuk back to his former goal-scoring self.
Tradable Assets
Keeping all of the Leafs’ top prospects would be great, but it is unrealistic. Sandin is off-limits, but that means someone else must be up for the taking.
- LW. Nicholas Robertson
- LW/RW. Rodion Amirov
- C/RW. Mikhail Abramov
Winger Nicholas Robertson has been a blessing for the Leafs’ organization. He has nine points in 10 games with the Marlies after racking up 86 points in 46 games with the Peterborough Petes last season. He is a small and skilled forward that plays bigger than his frame.
Dubas drafted Rodion Amirov in the first round this past draft. The skinny Russian turned heads at the World Junior Championship and is playing well in the KHL. His hockey IQ separates him from others and is what made him the 15th overall pick in 2020.
A mid-round pick that the Leafs nailed was using a fourth-round draft pick on Mikhail Abramov. He has torn up the QMJHL with the Victoriaville Tigres, notching 97 points in 82 games the past two seasons. The hardworking playmaker has taken strides every season.
All three players are small and skilled forwards, which the Leafs already possess in the NHL. The type of players listed is a surplus for the team. While keeping them would be beneficial down the road, trading one away would not be surprising considering the surplus players and their trade value.