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Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Hypothetical Morgan Rielly Trades

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 21: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks to make a play against Seth Jones #3 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jackets defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 21: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks to make a play against Seth Jones #3 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jackets defeated the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
CALGARY, AB – JANUARY 24: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Calgary Flames shoves John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
  • Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Matthew Tkachuk
  • Calgary Flames acquire: Morgan Rielly, Alex Kerfoot, Rodion Amirov and 2021 Second-Round Pick (If Tkachuk re-signs in Toronto*)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have $40M invested in four forwards, so why would they make this move to add another high-paid forward to the mix? Well, that’s because Matthew Tkachuk would make this team exceptionally better and is the key ingredient to what they need.

As we look at the Leafs defensive depth chart, this is a very important year for Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin. If Toronto thinks that these two players can hold down the bottom-pair of their defense, they are going to save so much money and can afford to spend another $7M on a forward.

By shipping Rielly and Kerfoot out, the team would actually save $1.5M by acquiring Tkachuk and then in-turn could sign another top-four defenseman. I know it’s tough to replace Rielly, but acquiring Tkachuk is exactly what this team needs.

Toronto needs more depth-scoring and someone who plays with an edge. Tkachuk can do both of those things and would turn the Leafs top-six into the best in hockey.

Tampa Bay has continued to win with high-end skill, so Toronto can replicate that by stacking it’s top-six. Tkachuk may only have one year left on his deal, but since he’s a pending RFA, it’ll be worth the risk to trade for him. Even if it’s a failed experiment, the team could trade his rights for a great package or get a ton of compensation for him if someone offer-sheeted him.

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