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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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Toronto Maple Leafs
Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Duncan Keith

In 2010 Duncan Keith lit the league on fire. He played lock down defense and put up 14 goals and 55 assists on his way to his first Stanley Cup Championship. That year he was also named to the NHL First All-Star Team, captured his first James Norris Memorial Trophy, and won a gold medal at the Olympics. Keith was once a player every team wished they had.

In his career, Keith went on to win a second Olympic gold, two more Stanley Cups, play in four All-Star Games, win another Norris Trophy and win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Sadly, Keith stopped collecting those accolades in 2017. While he’s been an important player for the Chicago Blackhawks and logged big minutes for them, he’s nowhere near the player he once was.

This is why Leafs fans need to pause before getting excited when they hear Keith’s named dropped as someone who could be on the trading block. Let’s not forget that he will be 38 years old.

While his age doesn’t disqualify him from being useful to the Toronto Maple Leafs, his contract does. Keith will be earning an AAV of $5,538,462 for this coming season and the one after it.

Even if the Leafs were to receive excellent compensation for taking on Keith’s contract, it’s just not worth eating up their valuable cap space for him.  Additionally, he’s just not good any more and would not even come close to providing a reason to block some of the Leafs younger players from having a chance to make the team.

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