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The Toronto Maple Leafs Shouldn’t Trade for Big Names This Summer

By Jeff Borsuk

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 17, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 of the Arizona Coyotes skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Oliver-Ekman Larsson

If Duncan Keith’s $5,538,462 salary was enough to make you squirm thinking about adding it to the Toronto Maple Leafs cap, then there’s no telling what sort of reaction may occur from Oliver-Ekman Larsson’s contract. He is owed $50 M in total salary over the next six season with an eye popping AAV of $8.25 M.

To make that contract even less appealing is the no movement clause that the Arizona Coyotes and Larsson negotiated. As much as the Maple Leafs like collecting captains from around the league, they will certainly need to leave this one in the dessert. Last season, when Larsson’s name was being tossed about, it was reported that the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins were the only two teams the defenseman would waive his no-move for. Even if the Buds had interest (and they shouldn’t), this deal would be dead on arrival.

Matt Dumba

Matt Dumba will turn 27 this month and will continue to be a very serviceable NHL defenseman. He is expected to be traded because the Minnesota Wild are likely to lose him in the Seattle Kraken NHL Expansion Draft if they keep him on their roster. For Minnesota, moving Dumba early means they can recoup some assets instead of losing Dumba for nothing.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs put together a package for Dumba they would have two problems themselves. The first is the $6 M AAV he will have for the next two seasons. The other is that by trading for Dumba the Leafs would just be trading for the same problem the the Wild face. This would put Toronto in a position to not only give things up to Minnesota for Dumba, but they’d also have to send a desirable package to Seattle to keep their man.

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