Should the Toronto Maple Leafs Trade for Available Blackhawks?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 15: Alex DeBrincat #12 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates a second period, power play goal with Patrick Kane #88 against the Washington Capitals at the United Center on December 15, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 15: Alex DeBrincat #12 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates a second period, power play goal with Patrick Kane #88 against the Washington Capitals at the United Center on December 15, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Toronto Maple Leafs
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 17: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Chicago Blackhawks . (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Goaltenders

Trade target: Marc Andre-Fleury

This is a wild option, but hear me out. He makes $7M which is a ton of cash, but if Chicago retains 50 percent of the contract, it’s possible.

50 percent of $7M is $3.5M. Who makes close to that price-tag? Petr Mrazek ($3.8M).

With a realistic chance at winning a Stanley Cup this year, why not ship Mrazek out for Fleury and enhance your goaltender duo? Also, by doing so it frees up a ton of cap-space for next year.

There’s no goaltender available that has more Stanley Cup experience than Fleury. He’s won three rings and has played in five Stanley Cup Finals. He doesn’t need to be the number-one goaltender, but instead, can be the reassurance to Jack Campbell if things go sideways.

Fleury was a 1A/1B goaltender when Pittsburgh won back-to-back Stanley Cup’s, so being in that situation again shouldn’t be an issue. Campbell can run the table and play the entire playoff-run, or they can go to Fleury if Campbell struggles.

Can Olympics Propel Ho-Sang to NHL?. dark. Next

Either way, adding Fleury would be a huge blessing to the line-up and would make the Leafs a Stanley Cup favorite.