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Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Targets For Each NHL Division

By Stephen Nixon

CALGARY, AB - NOVEMBER 4: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on November 4, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Dallas Stars defeated the Flames 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - NOVEMBER 4: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on November 4, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Dallas Stars defeated the Flames 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Jan 22, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Ottawa Senators . Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Trade Options for the Toronto Maple Leafs In the Atlantic Division

Trade Options: Ben Chariot (Montreal Canadiens), Zach Sanford (Ottawa Senators), Cody Eakin (Buffalo Sabres), Victor Olofsson (Buffalo Sabres), Marc Staal (Detroit Red Wings)

There are a few names that jump out immediately on this list. First is Ben Chariot, defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens.

I don’t remember there being so much hype around a player who doesn’t provide any offense, isn’t great defensively and has terrible advanced analytics. I guess because he’s 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he gets a pass on everything, but any team who trades for this player will regret it.

The Leafs are smart enough not to make this trade, at least, let’s hope so.

Of the the players on this list, the two that I think the Leafs should seriously consider trading for are Sanford and Staal. They’re both pending UFA’s on a very minimal contract, so it shouldn’t cost a ton to acquire them.

Sanford didn’t play every playoff game during the St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup run but he was part of the journey in the biggest moment scoring in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to help his team win. There are only a handful of players in NHL history with that type of experience, so bringing him into the room to play depth minutes on the left-side would be a good fit.

Staal is a big-body defenseman, who is very similar to Chariot in terms of size and stats. However, the reason why Toronto should be more inclined to trade for him is because of his experience and cap-hit.

As a third-pairing defenseman, Staal can eat up a lot of minutes and can be counted on in big moments.

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