Top 4 Pending UFAs Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade For
When the Toronto Maple Leafs finally make a trade, expect them to acquire a pending free agent.
Typically, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas prefers a player with term, but not this year. With limited cap-space next season and an Expansion Draft looming, it makes sense to have as much flexibility as possible. Even if the team has to give up draft picks and prospects for a rental.
Speaking of trades, when the heck is one going to happen?
Every time I look at Twitter, I feel like Brian Fantana in Anchorman during Panda Watch. Fantana continues to get called to the Zoo to cover Ling Wong’s birth, but every day, nothing happens. Trying to make the news as compelling as possible, his frustration reaches a boiling point.
Eventually Ling Wong gives birth, but before that happens, he’s caught screaming “Get out here, Panda Jerk!” That’s exactly how I feel about the Leafs trade rumors, as I’ve sent multiple texts saying “Make a trade, already!”
Toronto has been teasing a trade for weeks, so many fans have been growing impatient. If they don’t make a trade before this weekend, I’ll be utterly shocked.
There are plenty of places where Toronto could upgrade. In a perfect world, they could use another top-six forward, top-four defenseman and maybe even another depth defenseman. However, they’ll probably only get one of those three things at the NHL Trade Deadline.
With salary cap concerns, they’d have to move too many parts most likely to receive all three, but based Brandon Pridham’s expertise with the cap rules, they could have something up their sleeve.
Here are four pending UFA’s that the Toronto Maple Leafs should trade for.
No. 4: Kyle Palmieri ($4.65M)
Palmieri almost seems too good to be true. In fact, it feels like the New York Islanders are going to do everything in their power to acquire him, after Anders Lee went down recently.
However, if they can’t make that happen, the Leafs should be convincing New Jersey to trade Palmieri to Toronto.
With five straight seasons of 20 or more goals, he’d be a perfect fit on the second line. The one issue is that he’s a right winger and right-handed shot and Toronto needs left wingers. However, crisis averted, because William Nylander has been known to play the left-side before and would be fine in that position if called upon.
Palmieri has only played in the playoffs once in the past five seasons, so a trip back to the postseason could be a motivating factor for him. Although he only has eight goals in 38 career playoff games, most of his games played took place very early into his career, when he wasn’t an established 25-30 goal scorer, yet.
Toronto needs one more depth addition in their top-six and another power-play threat. Palmieri not only fits that mold, but he also has grit that Toronto is missing.
The Leafs are tough to play against because their offense is deadly, but they’re not exactly tough to play against, physically. Although he’s only 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Palmieri plays bigger than his size would indicate and can be a physical force that’s needed.
No. 3: Nick Foligno ($5.5M)
For whatever reason, Foligno’s name continues to seem like a better fit as everyday passes. The one issue though, is that he makes $5.5M.
Despite his high salary, the Leafs could get creative with a trade and pull it off. Whether or not Alex Kerfoot would have to go the other way, it’s still possible that Toronto could make this trade work.
Foligno is a hard-working professional. As the current captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, he’s a leader on and off the ice. Although his stats have decreased over the past three seasons, you’d be acquiring way more than his points total.
The 33-year-old left-winger is someone who can do it all. Whether it’s the penalty kill, powerplay, top-six or bottom-six, he’s able to fit in anywhere the coach puts him. Having only played with Ottawa and Columbus his entire career, he’s only made it past the first round of the playoffs twice in his career, so you know he’s eager to win.
As a former 30-goal scorer, Foligno can chip in when necessary, but he’s mostly going to be used as a gritty player who’s hard to play against. He’d provide a perfect balance on the John Tavares-William Nylander line and be someone who can provide depth scoring, but more importantly can add important leadership.
After hurting the Leafs in the NHL Bubble last August, he’d be a great competitor to have on Toronto’s side moving forward.
No. 2: Mikael Granlund ($3.75M)
Although he’s currently day-to-day with an injury, if the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to acquire another skillful top-six forward, there’s arguably nobody better than Granlund right now.
John Tavares has been one of the most talked about players on Toronto this year because of his inefficiency to score 5v5. He’s still an incredibly valuable player to this roster, but if the Leafs wanted to give him a much better chance to score 5v5, Granlund is their guy.
With a high hockey intelligence, it’s Granlund’s playmaking ability that makes him so deadly. Typically averaging between 30-40 assists per season, he’s been more of the set-up man, than a scorer with Nashville.
Although he’s an assist man, he’s been able to score 20-plus goals in a season on two occasions in his career, so he does have some scoring threat.
Granlund’s production has dropped this season, but it shouldn’t be anything to be worried about. His team isn’t great and he’s been talked about in rumors all year, so that could be getting to his head.
With a fresh start and especially paired with two of Toronto’s core-four, he’d be able to get back to normal quickly.
No. 1: David Savard ($4.25M)
Savard is the perfect top-four defenseman to join the Leafs right now. If you remember the NHL Bubble and the playoff series between Columbus and Toronto, Savard was a beast.
When the playoffs start, the team that is harder and tougher to play against typically wins. Savard will immediately help that tough part, as he’s someone no player wants to see in the corner. He’s especially not a defender you want to go up against when the referees take their whistle away near the end of a game.
At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Savard plays a similar role to Jake Muzzin. Instead of going with a Holl-Muzzin duo, a Savard-Muzzin tandem would be one of the scariest pairings in the NHL. They’d be an absolute force to play against in the playoffs.
Savard’s teammate, Zach Werenski, described his game perfectly (via: Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatcher)
“You just know what you’re going to get out of him every single night. He’s a guy who’s going to block shots, be physical, be good defensively. He doesn’t really score too much, but he has kind of an offensive touch to him. He can make plays. In all situations, Savy’s a rock for our back end, and he’s been a huge part of this team for a long time.”
Toronto doesn’t need a defenseman who can score. They need someone who’s a fierce competitor and stop pucks from going into the back of the net.
dark. Next. 32 Trade Options for the Leafs
If them Toronto Maple Leafs can make one trade before the deadline, they need to acquire Savard.