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Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Alex Kerfoot Trade Scenarios

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Alexander Kerfoot #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends against the Montreal Canadiens during Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Alexander Kerfoot #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends against the Montreal Canadiens during Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 26: Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Nashville Predators  . (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

No. 1: The Nashville Trade

The Trade:

  • Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Mattias Ekholm
  • Nashville Predators acquire: Alex Kerfoot, Mikhail Abramov and 2022 2nd Round Pick (*If Ekholm re-signs in Toronto*)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been rumored to Ekholm for the past year and it makes sense why. The 31-year-old is a big-body defenseman who puts up big-time points.

At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Ekholm’s like a poor-man’s Dougie Hamilton. He’s not quite as big or doesn’t quite score as many goals, but at $3.75M AAV, I’d rather have him on my team than Hamilton’s $9M.

Ekholm would also make a great Leaf, based on his playoff experience. With 71 playoff games under his belt and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, that experience would be great in the room. Jake Muzzin is currently the only other defenseman to have played in a Final, so any extra experience is crucial in those big games.

Since Nashville is rebuilding and Ekholm is a pending UFA, they may be inclined to trade him, if they’re getting a player with term in return. Kerfoot would help a low-scoring Predators team in the top-six or as a third-line centre, so this could be a good trade for both parties.

Who knows if that’s enough to get Ekholm to Toronto but another big-body player on the blue-line would be great for the Leafs.

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