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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Trade Deadline Targets And Needs

By Wilbert Timmermans

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his game winning goal at 13:10 in overtime to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 07, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his game winning goal at 13:10 in overtime to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 07, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /
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OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 14: Ryan Dzingel #10 of the Ottawa Senators shoots the puck against Zach Bogosian #22 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  (Photo by Matt Zambonin/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 14: Ryan Dzingel #10 of the Ottawa Senators shoots the puck against Zach Bogosian #22 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  (Photo by Matt Zambonin/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

My Take

For a change of spice this year, the Toronto Maple Leafs biggest needs lie in their top-six forward group. To be more specific, a left-winger for the Tavares line. The Tavares line has been unreliable throughout most of the season, while Nylander has put up good statistics, Tavares seems out of tune.

Starting out with Vesy, who was placed on waivers earlier this week, Sheldon Keefe has tried multiple players on the left-wing, but none seemed to find the right chemistry with Tavares and Nylander. A trade acquisition, all be it the right one, could provide the much-needed spark for the Tavares and Nylander line.

Faced with a unique opportunity when it comes to the playoffs this season, due to the changed alignment of the Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs are rid of the curse of facing arguably the two best teams in the NHL in the first two rounds in Boston and Tampa Bay.

Within that advantage also lies the conundrum for Kyle Dubas approaching this year’s trade deadline; “how good are the Toronto Maple Leafs actually?”

Surely this question has been pondered upon by Dubas, while the potential on paper and in games against the Canadian teams has been seen, it hasn’t been tested against the stronger teams in the other divisions. Dubas seemed to have no doubt about it, stating he would be willing to involve a top prospect in any potential deal.

But for that to happen, the potential piece added would need to be more than just a rental just for the remainder of the season. Considering the standings in the Divisions, there will be teams that are not ready to enter towards the deadline as sellers just yet. Which makes it difficult to identify potential trade partners and targets.

To complicate matters, even more, potential sellers at the trade deadline from the other Divisions become less suitable as the trade deadline closes in due to the travel restrictions and obligated quarantine for players travelling to Canada.

For this reason, the Toronto Maple Leafs can turn towards the Ottowa Senators for left-winger Ryan Dzingel.

Dzingel could bring extra scoring depth and skill to the Tavares line and could flourish from playing on a line with both Nylander and Tavares. Because of his expiring contract, the price for Dzingel wouldn’t cost Dubas a top prospect, but rather draft-picks for the 2021 or 2022 NHL entry draft.

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