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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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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators  (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators  (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /

Philip van Riesen

The trade deadline is fast approaching and the Leafs have a better opportunity than ever before to make it far in the playoffs without the likes of Tampa and Boston in the same division as them.

Dubas and management have an opportunity to make a move that could really move the needle.

As has been made clear from the wear and tear of the season, Joe Thornton playing in the top-6 has become a less than ideal scenario given his age and current ability slowing him down. Adding another quality player to the forward core has the potential to have a forward group that is as good as any in the league.

With the loss from the forward depth the Leafs had in previous seasons with the likes of Kadri, Johnsson, and Kapanen all out the door, the Leafs forward depth is no longer one of the team’s strengths.

Adding a quality player who can play in the top-6 or even as the third-line centre in Mikael Granlund could change the whole complexity of the Leafs forward group for the better.

Granlund is a highly skilled player who thrives at breaking into the zone and creating quality chances for teammates. Whether Granlund is helping to create opportunities on the Tavares line or on the Matthews line, there is plenty of increased offensive potential either way.

Granlund also has shown to put up good defensive results in the past and wouldn’t be a liability defensively. If the Leafs are able to add a player such as Granlund, this will allow for Thornton to move down the lineup where he should be playing, and the Leafs to have a more solid all-around third and fourth line that would be able to match up against a deeper team such as the Habs.

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