The Top 5 Players the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade For
By James Tanner
Damon Severson
Right Handed, Top Pairing defenseman are the NHL’s White Whale – often hunted, rarely caught.
Sure, the Leafs have Justin Holl and he’s a perfectly adequate, above average, number-four. But if you want to win in the playoffs, having four legitimate number-ones couldn’t hurt.
Damon Severson is an elite puck-mover who has very good defensive metrics that are just not-quite-elite, but still very good.
Most players are either very good offensively or very good defensively. Severson is a hybrid who excels at both ends of the rink. Put him on Toronto and they’ve got two top-pairings and four number-ones, as well as one of the best 3rd pairings in the NHL.
The cost will be high, but considering the Devils record, he’s almost certainly going to be available.
There simply isn’t another player who is likely to be available and who would fit in on the Leafs so well. Not only is Severson a glove-like fit for the Leafs system, but he’s the exact position that they need (right-side defender).
This would be a massive upgrade on par with when the Toronto Maple Leafs added Jake Muzzin or when the Lightning added Ryan Mcdonugh