Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade for Patrik Laine

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a number of moves during the first few days of free agency but are they finished for the offseason?

When you look at the Toronto Maple Leafs roster on capfriendly.com, it’s safe to assume that Kyle Dubas is finished making moves. With zero cap-space available and every position filled, it would make sense that the team we see today, will be the same team on opening night.

However, don’t hold your breath.

The big dominoes may have fallen, but there is still an opportunity for the Leafs to upgrade. For example, Toronto would still like to improve on the following positions.

Toronto Maple Leafs Third-Line Centre

As of right now, the Leafs have Alex Kerfoot slotted in as the third-line centre, but that’s subject to change. It’s possible that he’ll be given an opportunity to play left-wing in the top-six, so that his position will be given to David Kampf or Pierre Engvall instead.

At $1.5M for Kampf and $1.25M for Engvall, the Toronto Maple Leafs would probably prefer for one of those two to fill the third-line centre void, because you’re not going to find a better contract for that spot. As a result, with Nick Ritchie, Nick Robertson and Michael Bunting all fighting for a spot in the team’s top-six, Kerfoot could be expendable.

Kerfoot has two years left at $3.5M and is perfectly paid for what he brings. He can play the penalty-kill, has speed and has shown some offensive flare in previous season’s. However, on a team that is looking to save every penny, Kerfoot could be an tradeable contract for someone with more upside on a one-year contract.

Speaking of a trade…

Top-Six Left-Wing Position

As previous discussed, the Leafs could go with Kerfoot in the top-six, or they could go with Michael Bunting, Nick Robertson and/or Nick Ritchie.

The team has a ton of options, but if they really want to upgrade their team, an Alex Kerfoot trade to acquire a top-six left-winger could be something this team does. Although, there have rumors about one of the players I’m about to speak of, the other player is just a thought and something I think the Leafs may want to explore.

Personally, I don’t think a trade is going to happen in the offseason, but instead will happen near the NHL Trade Deadline. However, as the season progresses, here are two names to keep an eye on that are pending free agents.

Rickard Rakell ($3.789M)

Rakell is a pending UFA and has been rumored to Toronto for a few years. He’s had a few down seasons, but is a two-time 30-goal scorer, so he has the ability to play with great players like the Leafs core-four and contribute.

Based on his salary, Rakell could be an option for the Leafs and it probably won’t cost them too much in return, as Anaheim is bound for the NHL Lottery.

Patrik Laine ($7.5M)

This is the most interesting name out there, but hear me out why it makes sense. Columbus is going to be terrible this year and is in a rebuilding phase. Obviously, Laine is a player you want to build around, but they could trade him at the Deadline and re-sign him to an offer sheet if they like him that much.

Columbus is going to have a ton of cap-space in 2022-23 to be able to do that, plus they’d be able to get a ton of assets in return, if they really wanted to. Or, if they don’t think he fits the future, they should ship him for assets anyways.

Laine, is a former second overall pick, right behind Auston Matthews, so the idea of Laine playing on Matthews’ wing is electrifying.

Laine makes $7.5M, but if Columbus retained 50% and they shipped Kerfoot the other way, they can make it work. Laine is a pure goal-scorer, so if he had someone like Mitch Marner passing him the puck every night, the Leafs first-line would be a video game.

It’s an exciting idea to think of, but he’ll have to wait and see if Toronto has anymore trades/signings up their sleeve this offseason.