Take your pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Both Mikael Granlund and Mattias Ekholm would be ideal pieces for Kyle Dubas to add before the trade deadline. They would reinforce the team’s defense while chipping in offensively every once in a while.
While Granlund would fetch a pretty penny, Ekholm has a higher price tag. How much is Dubas willing to go all-in this season? That is something he must ask himself.
Toronto is not losing multiple top prospects. Instead, we can see one top dog packaged with a draft pick or a middle prospect.
With the Leafs at the top of the Scotia North Division, Dubas may want to do what put’s the team in the best position to win this season. Trading for Ekholm would do that, but it would cause a headache this offseason and next season if he remains with the team.
Granlund is more likely to hop on a plane to Pearson Airport. Not only would the Leafs love a defensive forward to play on one of the top two lines, but it would also make Dubas’ job less complicated during the expansion draft.
Don’t get me wrong; I would love Ekholm on the team. His physicality and two-way abilities would greatly benefit the team. I don’t see Dubas willing to pay the price for Ekholm’s term when he would likely leave the team this offseason.
Unless Kyle can get the defenseman for a bargain, I don’t see him wearing the maple leaf. As great as it would be, it is too good to be true.
Settling for Granlund is not such a bad thing. While he hasn’t been the same player offensively for a while, being on an offensive team like the Toronto Maple Leafs can rejuvenate that part of his game.
Toronto already has a ton of offensive players on the team, so adding a defensive one would mesh in well. That is what the team needs to help them compete for a Stanley Cup.
The only way Dubas grabs Ekholm is if he is willing to give up extra assets. He would also need to think Ekholm is significantly better than Granlund. Whoever it may be, it must give the Toronto Maple Leafs the best shot to win it all for the first time since 1967.