3 Defensemen the Toronto Maple Leafs Could Trade For

1. Jon Merrill – 29 years old – D

2020-21 stats – 30 GP – 0 G – 4 A – 4 PTS – 43.9 CF%

Career stats – 385 GP – 12 G – 53 A – 65 PTS – 50.3 CF%

Jon Merrill is one of the best bang-for-your-buck defensemen that might be potentially available ahead of the trade deadline as he, just like the other two defensemen mentioned in this article, play more of a defensive-styled game instead of an offensive-styled game.

Merrill, who is 29 years old signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings worth $925K in the off-season, which is amazing that he is currently worth less than a million dollars and can definitely fit on every team in the NHL and would very much enjoy his services on the blue line for them.

Just like the other two defensemen, he is a left-shot defenseman rather than a right shot, and that usually doesn’t seem very intriguing to many fans, especially Toronto Maple Leafs fans because they are so desperate for right-shot defensemen back there.

However, Merril is more than reliable to be trusted back there on the blue line as he’s been a very steady defenseman for years now with Vegas and now Detroit. His services would be more than welcomed on this Toronto Maple Leafs team, as I think they should be looking to add at least one more piece back there to really solidify their depth of the defense.

Per Evolving-Hockey, Merrill ranks fourth on the Red Wings with a 1.97 GA/60 (goals against per 60 minutes), ranks third with a 2.02 xGA/60 (expected goals against per 60 minutes), and ranks fifth with a 30.49 SA/60 )shots against per 60 minutes).

For someone who is on a Red Wings team that’s one of the worst teams currently in the NHL, and has been one of the worst teams in the NHL for a couple of seasons now, he’s putting up some pretty good defensive analytic numbers that a lot of teams would love.